London Search and Rescue
| Abbreviation | LonSAR |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2012 |
| Type | Charitable incorporated organisation |
| Registration no. | 1192257 |
| Headquarters | London |
Region served | Greater London, England |
| Affiliations | Lowland Rescue |
| Website | londonsar |
London Search and Rescue (LonSAR) is a registered charity that supports the Metropolitan Police, City of London Police, and the charity Missing People, in searches for vulnerable missing persons across Greater London.[1][2][3][4]
London Search and Rescue operates across a search area of approximately 700 square miles covering all 32 London boroughs and the City of London, which includes urban space, parks, woodlands, commons, waterways and open land.[1]
History
London Search and Rescue was founded by volunteers in 2012 as South East London Search and Rescue.[1] In 2018, the organisation expanded its remit to cover all 32 London boroughs and the City of London, adopting its current name and registering as a charity (Charity No. 1157836) affiliated with Lowland Rescue, the national body representing lowland search and rescue teams across the United Kingdom.[1] In 2024, the organisation restructured as a charitable incorporated organisation, registering under Charity No. 1192257.[1][5]
Operations
The organisation is run entirely by trained volunteers who operate on-call twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.[4] The charity does not receive funding from government, local authorities or emergency services, relying entirely on charitable donations and grants.[1][2] As of 2025, the team comprises approximately 120 volunteers.[1]
Core operational search capabilities are built around foot search, and coordinated from purpose-built Incident Control Units equipped with satellite communications, digital mapping and GPS tracking technology.[1][3] Specialist search capabilities include paddlecraft search by kayak and paddleboard, bike search using electric mountain bikes, water search including swiftwater rescue, powerboat operations, specialist medical response by FREC-qualified first responders, search dogs and drone operations with thermal imaging.[1]
LonSAR provides operational support to the City of London Police in the annual Lord Mayor's Show in the City of London.[1]
LonSAR volunteers joined specialist Metropolitan Police officers in searches of Clapham Common and the surrounding area following the disappearance of Sarah Everard in 2021.[6][7] LonSAR was deployed in 2023 alongside Metropolitan Police officers in a large-scale search operation in Brighton following the arrest of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon.[8][9]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "About Us". London Search and Rescue. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- 1 2 "About LonSAR". London Search and Rescue. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- 1 2 "London Search and Rescue expands with new Incident Control Units". Charity Today. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- 1 2 Adamou, Cecilia (22 December 2024). "Search and Rescue Volunteer's Passion". Sunday Mirror. p. 17.
- ↑ "London Search & Rescue – Charity 1192257". Charity Commission for England and Wales. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ Sherwood, Harriet (6 March 2021). "Desperate search continues for missing woman in Clapham". SW Londoner. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
- ↑ "Sarah Everard: Timeline of 33-year-old's disappearance". LBC. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ "Body found in search for missing baby". Brighton and Hove News. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ "Parkland scoured in urgent search for Constance Marten and Mark Gordon's baby". Radio NewsHub. PA Media. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2026.