About Dorset Search & Rescue (DorSAR)
Dorset Search and Rescue (DORSAR) is a team of highly trained volunteers who work with the Police, Coastguard and other emergency services in the search and recovery of missing persons, swift water and flood water rescue, search and recovery of significant objects, and provide support at major incidents. The organisation was founded in 2004 and since then has grown in both size and reputation.
We are available and on call 24/7, 365 days of the year, with a commitment to Dorset Police that we are able to deploy anywhere in the county of Dorset within 90 minutes of being called upon.
Called into action via Dorset Police, DorSAR are able to offer considerable resources to support the county's emergency services in times of crisis. Dorset Search & Rescue currently comprises of over 80 operational search technicians who are all qualified Lowland Rescue Search Technicians, a qualification that satisfies national standards. We have three vehicles, a comprehensively equipped search control vehicle, a bespoke water team support vehicle and a 4×4 Land Rover.
How DorSAR fits into the Search and Rescue Network
At Dorset Search and Rescue, doing the right thing is at the heart of everything we do. Our volunteers commit to making sound, ethical decisions in high-pressure situations, always putting the safety and well-being of those we search for above all else. Whether it means reporting a concern about a team member's welfare, following proper protocols even under time pressure, or being honest about our capabilities and limitations, integrity guides every mission we undertake. Doing the right thing means being accountable to each other, to the people we serve and to the communities across Dorset who trust us to be there when it matters most.
Who are lowland rescue?
Saving lives is the fundamental purpose of Dorset Search and Rescue and the driving force behind everything we do. Our dedicated volunteers train tirelessly, developing the skills, knowledge, and physical fitness needed to locate and rescue missing or vulnerable people in some of the most challenging conditions imaginable. Whether searching remote countryside, coastal paths, or urban environments, every callout carries the potential to make the difference between life and death. By responding swiftly, working professionally, and never giving up on those who need us, our teams give people in crisis the best possible chance of coming home safely to their loved ones.
Who are SWERA?
SWERA is the South West England Rescue Association — the regional umbrella body that DorSAR belongs to. It was formed in 1978 in response to the growing number of rescue teams being set up in the region, and it represents voluntary search and rescue teams across the near South West of England: Bristol, Dorset, Gloucestershire, part of Somerset, and Wiltshire. It's a registered charity (No. 1031017). Described in its own words as the forum for voluntary mountain, moorland, water, cave and lowland rescue organisations in South West England, its role is coordination and mutual support rather than operational tasking — member teams remain independent and are called out by their own police forces or the Coastguard.
What constitutes a high risk missing person?
A high-risk missing person is someone whose risk of serious harm or death is assessed as! very likely, requiring immediate police and agency deployment.
How we search for high risk vunerable missing people.
Dorset Search and Rescue teams, alongside Dorset Police, use a structured step-by-step process combining human behaviour data, technology, and specialized tracking to find missing people.
Dorset local resilience forum
The Dorset Local Resilience Forum (LRF) is a multi-agency partnership that coordinates emergency planning, response, and recovery across Dorset. It consists of Emergency services (Police, Fire, Ambulance, Coastguard), Local authorities (Dorset Council, BCP Council), NHS and health organizations, The Environment Agency, utility companies as well as voluntary and community groups.
We are available and on call 24/7, 365 days of the year, with a commitment to Dorset Police that we are able to deploy anywhere in the county of Dorset within 90 minutes of being called upon.
Andy Roberts
Search Technician
