Search Action Plan

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SARBC volunteered to draft a plan, which would address what to do next.

The Plan, which follows, is the result of several consultations with school staff, Principal, Safe Arrival program volunteers and the RCMP.

Please note that Sections D-E are School specific.

At the beginning of each school year, children are sent home with the "Safe Arrival" Form.

Parents are asked to list the following phone numbers:

home, both parent's business numbers, and three alternate numbers (neighbors, relatives and friends). This information is then put on a rollex card file at the school.

Each morning, a volunteer from the Safe Arrival program phones the designated "Contact Parent" and gets a list of all the children who will be absent that day.

Teachers take "roll-call" at school.

Absentees are checked with the "Contact Parent's list".

If a child is absent and not on the list, then the following occurs:

• Parent(s)/Guardian notified.
  
• If unable to contact the parent/guardian, check back with the teacher to see if the child has arrived in the interim. Siblings are questioned regarding the whereabouts of missing child.

NOTE : The above procedure is based on the assumption that the child is registered in the "Safe Arrival" program.

NOTE : In the school records, it is noted who is the child's court appointed guardian and any stipulations.

ITEM 1
Safe Arrival program personnel will advise the Principal (Search Coordinator), and will contact parents of the missing child. They will advise parents that their child has not arrived at school. If the child is not at home and parents are unaware of their child's whereabouts, instruct the parents they are responsible for the following:

1. Attempt to locate their child by contacting the homes of their child's friends, and check with family and neighbors.
2. Check the route the child normally takes to school and areas the child frequents.
3. If there is no adult at the child's home, make arrangements for someone to be there, or parents should return home, in case child returns and/or additional information is needed.

1. Known intentions of the missing child (identify child's friends).
2. Possible sightings of the missing child.
3. Areas the missing child frequents/plays.

Search Coordinator is to complete "Missing Child Information Form".
(For information: school records, teacher and child's parents)

• Include child's picture on the form as well.
  
• Photocopy several copies for searchers.

ITEM 4
Search Coordinator will dispatch search teams and document all information and decisions.

Search Coordinator is responsible for the following briefings:

• School Staff : Notify that child is missing, description of child and subsequent procedures.
• Staff Search Teams :
  1. Description of missing child -see "Missing Child Information Form".
  2. Search Procedures :

     NOTE: The Search Coordinator will, in advance, assign personnel by function, to search each Zone.

     1. Building Search - Thorough search of all rooms, including small spaces that a child could hide in. (ie.cupboards, etc.)
     2. Outbuildings and Grounds Search - Thorough, systematic search for child and possible articles that the child may have dropped. Periodically, call out the child's name and listen for at least ten seconds for a response.
     3. In the event of clues or items found, note precisely where found. Bring back to Search HQ.
     4. Give searchers deadlines to return to Search HQ.

  3. In the event that the child is found and there is suspicion of foul play, send someone for help, don't disturb the area and administer First-Aid as necessary. (See Section F for more info.)

The Search Coordinator will also document the following:

1. Child's home address on the map.
   
2. Areas searched and any observations.
   
3. General public sightings (Witness reports).
   
4. Any applicable information for the search effort.

1. Missing Child Information Form - completed.
   
2. Log or list of what has been done so far.
   
3. Map with the school and the child's house identified on it.
   
4. List of areas the child would frequent.

The news of a missing child sends a chill through any caring person, especially the Parents or Guardians. Sometimes, what to do first or next seems to be confusing, as thoughts of what could have happened, race through our minds. There are some things which can be done, now.

If a child is found to be missing from school, then the child's Parents/Guardians are notified by the school.

Once notified that their child is missing from school, Parents/Guardians should be prepared to help the search effort by doing the following:

1. Arrange to leave work if it becomes necessary.
   
2. Attempt to locate their child by contacting the homes of their child's friends, and check with family and neighbors.
   
3. Check the route the child normally takes to school and areas the child frequents.
   
4. If there is no adult at the child's home, make arrangements for someone to be there, or Parents/Guardians should return home, in case child returns and/or additional information is needed.

Parents/Guardians have a fixed time to locate their child, minimum 20 min - 30 min maximum, with the understanding that the school will be contacting the RCMP within 30 minutes.

If the Parents/Guardians are unable to locate their child within 30 minutes, they are to contact both their local RCMP Detachment and the school.

Give Description of child's clothing to School Search Coordinator.

If the Parents/Guardians feel they must go to the school, they should understand that they come under the direction and control of the Search Coordinator.

Date: ________________ Time (reported missing): ___________

Name: _________________________________ Nickname:__________________

Password: __________________

Parent/Guardian Name:___________________________

Address: _______________________________________ Phone #: _____________

LAST KNOWN LOCATION: _____________________________________________

Age: _______ Mental Age: _______ Sex: _____________ Race: _____________

Height: __________________ Weight: _________________ Build: _____________

Hair colour:_________ Hair Length: _______

Eye colour: ________ Wear glasses?: ____

Physical characteristics: ____________________________________ (ie. scars etc.)

Physical condition: ___________________________________________________

Coat: ___________________ Shirt: _____________

Dress:___________ Sweater: _________________

Pants: ___________ Skirt:_____________ Hat: ______________

Other:___________________ Boots: ________________________________ Shoes: _______________________

Runners: ______________________________ Other: ________________________

Lunch kit: ______________________________ Food: ________________________

Backpack/School bag: __________________ Toys: _________________________

School books: _________________________ Other: _________________________

Home room Teacher: ___________________ Phone #: _______________

Classroom #: _______

Known intentions: ______________________________________________________

Areas child frequents: __________________________________________________

Ever been lost before: _________ Where found: _________________________

Actions taken: ________________________________________________________

Point last seen: _______________________________________________________

Home to school arrangements: _____________________________________________________________________

Transporter's Name: ___________________________ Phone #: ________________

Names of child's friends: _____________________________________________________________________

Description, Names of companion(s), if any: _____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Circumstances of disappearance : _____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Name of witness: ____________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________

Telephone #: _______________________ Business #: _______________________

Reached for further information: ___________________________________________

Time Period at Alternate Number/Address: _________________________________

Time period Time sighted: _______________________________________________

Location: ______________________________________________________________

Direction of travel: _______________________________________________________

Child alone?: ________________________________

Description of incident: (record in own words of witness) _______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Compiled by: _____________________________

Date: _________________________ Time: _______________________

This would show a map of the area with the following information numbered on the map.

Grade One

( 1 ) Yards and houses of friends

( 2 ) Streets near both their own home and friends

Grade Two

School yards of the following schools:

( 3 ) Wishart, ( 4 ) Dunsmuir and ( 5 ) Sangster

( 2 ) Friend's homes

( 6 ) Ocean View Park

Grade Four

( 7 ) Gravel Pit

( 8 ) Webb Place - underdeveloped area

Grade Five and Six

( 9 ) Metchosin Road - near firehall

( 4 ) Dunsmuir School Ground

(10) "Forest Area" - off Wishart Road, going towards Metchosin Road

(11) Reservoir - Latoria Road

(12) New Town Houses - Mary Anne Crescent

(12) Play Ground - Mary Anne Crescent

( 7 ) Gravel Pit

(13) Winthrop Path - Near Bunker Road

Grade Five

( 3 ) Fields behind school

Grade Six

(9, 10) Around Church

(15) Forest Behind School

( 7 ) Gravel Pit

(14) By Johnny's Store

( 3 ) Path Between Portables

Grade Six and Seven

( 3 ) Forest beyond School Field

( 6 ) Ocean View Park

(9,10) Church Parking Lot

(10) End of Wishart Place

ENTER CHILD'S HOME ADDRESS: ________________________________________

This section would show the school layout, as well as, all rooms by floor.

Compiled from lectures given by RCMP and District Coroner. This information is to be given to Field Team Leaders only in certain situations (this is a very sensitive topic).

In the case of suspected foul play, or death of the missing person:

1. Safeguard the scene by sealing off the entire area. Allow only people actually engaged in the investigation into the area. Record the names of all people who came into contact with the scene area. If relieved of this duty by Police officer in charge, note his/her name, and time.

2. a. Note any vehicles in the immediate area and record their licence plate numbers.
   b. Note any people in the area not involved with the search, and write down a general description of each person.

3. The first member on the scene, or the Team Leader if immediately available, will be responsible for completing a file including: names of all persons present: all relevant times; the condition of the scene; the condition, description, and location of the victim; type of day; description of the area; a rough sketch of the scene also noting any peculiar or unusual items or pieces of evidence (signs of struggle, weapons, bloodstains, etc.).

4. Try to hold all witnesses, if any, and limit conversation between them. Treat suspects as witnesses, try and hold as a witness.

5. In the case of violent or sexual crime, record the FIRST statements of the victim, and who the victim made them to.

6. First-aid and evacuation, if necessary, must be the prime concern. However, try to protect the scene as much as possible. Use only the people necessary, the rest of the team must be excluded from the area.

7. One person should approach the scene to determine the course of action. The rest of the team should stay back.

8. All team members who had any part of 1,2,3,4 or 5 above should record their observations and should be prepared to attend a Coroner's inquest if one is called.