Coastal & Water Search Operations
March 10, 2026
Where the Land Meets the Unknown
Dorset is home to some of the most spectacular — and most treacherous — coastline in the United Kingdom. From the dramatic cliffs of the Jurassic Coast to the sweeping beaches of Bournemouth and Poole, our coastline draws millions of visitors every year. And with that beauty comes risk.
Our coastal and water search capabilities allow us to support operations where land-based searching simply isn’t enough. Working alongside the RNLI, HM Coastguard, and Dorset Police, our teams assist in locating missing persons in and around coastal environments — including cliff-top searches, beach operations, and support for water-based search activities.
Our coastal work includes:
- Cliff-top and coastal path searches
- Beach and shoreline searches in coordination with HM Coastguard
- Support for water-based search operations alongside partner agencies
- Casualty management at coastal incident scenes
- Search planning in tidal and coastal environments
Dorset’s coastline doesn’t play by the rules — and neither do we. Our volunteers train extensively in coastal search environments, understanding tidal patterns, cliff hazards, and the unique challenges that come with searching one of Britain’s most iconic stretches of coastline.
