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Briefing is a vital aspect of any search operation. Poor briefings will lead to confusion, misunderstanding, failure to spot evidence, destruction of evidence and it may also ultimately lead to a failure to find the subject.

Briefing will consist of:

As police officers will be aware this isn’t too far removed form their normal process of briefing and can be adapted to this format with ease. It should be remembered that in many searches a large proportion of the searchers will not be police officers and will not recognise ‘police speak’.

The briefing may be oral, written or a combination of both. Best practice obviously suggests it should be in writing. This reduces any chance of error and it provides the necessary documentary record.

All personnel involved must be properly briefed. Briefings may vary according to individual needs but the following are involved:

CONTENT OF BRIEFING

Complete physical description

All clothing and equipment

Shoe sole pattern

What subject is carrying

What may be discarded

Physical and mental condition

Habits and behavioural characteristics

Circumstances leading to subject becoming lost

Communication methods

Transportation

Deployments – what to do, where to do it and how to do it.

Search methods

Timescales involved – start, length of operational period, anticipated finish time.

Health and safety briefing

Media matters and instructions

Refreshments/breaks/rest periods

Contingencies for injury, bad weather, loss of communications etc

Debriefing instructions

The search teams should be provided with photos of the subject, copy sketch of sole pattern, maps of their own search area and an overview map in case of redeployment.

Difficulties will be encountered in obtaining some of the logistics at an early stage, such as sufficient copies of maps/plans. However, it is important to do so as reliable information will assist in the smooth running of the operation.

General points

Don’t make briefings too long.

Conduct the somewhere quiet and sheltered.

Team leader briefings take place before the teams leave.

Team briefings can take place at or near the search area.

Keep everyone informed of developments – it improves morale and efficiency if they feel ‘involved and valuable’, which of course they are!

DEBRIEFING

Debriefing is a complete interview and interrogation of a field search unit in order to gain a thorough understanding of all evidence and activities encountered during the day.

Tim J Setnicka, Wilderness Search and Rescue

1980

Debriefing is a process of evaluating the success of the current operation and of gathering information for planning future search strategies and tactics.

The views of all participants should be taken into account for documentary and search justification reasons.

All personnel should be debriefed. The management team should debrief at the end of each operational period and prior to the next shift briefing.

Searchers can be debriefed as they return to base either, in the case of small searches, individually, or more likely the team leaders will have debriefed their own team and will themselves be debriefed by the management team.

The process should be undertaken as soon as the team leave the field, while events are still fresh in their minds and before they have chance to speak to other teams. It is important that individuals, as well as teams, make their own observations rather than be influenced by the feelings of others.

What is required during the debrief?

Detailed area actually covered. This may differ from the area they were given due to terrain changes/difficulties, etc.

Estimate of the probability of detection for the search they have done.

Were any clues found, if so where?

Difficulties encountered, any areas unsearched.

Dangers/hazards in the search area.

Communications problems.

Suggestions for improvements in the future.

The most crucial aspect is to obtain information as to how the search actually went, the area covered, gaps and the POD. Completed maps are essential.

It is sometimes difficult to get team leaders to provide an estimated POD. One way of doing so is to ask them “If there were ten subjects in the area how many would you have found?”

A response of “seven” would give an estimated POD of 70%.

Debriefing should be in writing and it would be beneficial to have some sort of pre-printed debriefing report. This is common within the police service and if included with the search documentation would prompt the required responses, including the very important question of the POD.

An example of a debrief report is as follows:

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