News Release

15th July 2006

WITH STAFFS SEARCH & RESCUE TEAM

On Saturday morning (15th July), Michael Fabricant joined the Staffordshire Search & Rescue Team on an exercise to find a missing student. As a member of the Association of Lowland Search and Rescue, the primary role of the Staffordshire Search & Rescue Team is to seek missing persons in both rural and urban areas. But the Organisation also assists the community in times of crisis whether it be due to bad weather or civil disaster.

Michael says: "These volunteers are trained in search and rescue and first aid and should be a valuable resource to the police and other services. They are widely used in Cheshire, but under-utilised in Staffordshire. They could have been engaged, for example, in seeking out the remains of Gladys Hammond which were hidden by animal rights activists on Cannock Chase; but they were not. The Team are well trained and organised. At a time of police shortages, we should be making far better use of them."

For further information about membership, contact Mark Walker on 07976 289994

Photographs show Michael with the Staffordshire Search & Rescue Team.