Police Chief’s charitable donation for rescue vehicle
17th September 2019
Police chiefs have come together to donate tens of thousands of pounds to a team that helps locate high risk missing persons across the county.
£30,000 has been donated to help the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team buy and equip a new Mobile Incident Control Vehicle, replacing one that has now reached the end of its working life.
The Mountain Rescue Team last year (2018) performed 78 operations across West Yorkshire, including 22 to help locate high risk missing persons.
The donation was made by West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Mark Burns-Williamson and the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police, John Robins using the Police Property Act Fund.
The Fund consists of money from the sale of property connected with crime. The Fund can only be used for charitable purposes.
The Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team (HVMRT) is a volunteer-based search and rescue organisation based in Marsden, near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
The team has over 40 members who are on call to assist those in difficulty, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, whatever the weather.
The Mobile Incident Control Vehicle forms the integral hub of any search operation – providing search managers with a facility from which to plan and execute a search or rescue operation, wherever it is needed.
The vehicle contains vital IT and communications equipment necessary to plan and coordinate an operation, as well as welfare facilities to keep team members going through lengthy deployments.
The team needed £60,000 to buy and equip the new vehicle which they have now achieved following the donation for the Police Property Act Fund. The new vehicle is expected to be operational by next autumn.
Owen Phillips, Team Leader at the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable for this fantastic donation from the Police Property Act Fund. The donation will help us to continue vital lifesaving work and provide assistance to West Yorkshire Police for years to come.”
Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), said: “I am really pleased to be able to donate this money to help the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team. They have been of great assistance to our police service and other emergency services over a number of years and deserve our support back. I also want to place on record my appreciation to their volunteers who give up their spare time in order to help keep people safe in some very difficult and trying situations.”
West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable, John Robins QPM, said: “The Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team is a valuable asset for residents and also for visitors to West Yorkshire.
“They have played a key role in a number of police operations, proving how valuable they are.
“I am delighted for Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team as I know how vital the funds from the Police Property Act Fund will be to the provision of search and rescue for years to come.”
To find out more of the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team visit http://holmevalleymrt.org.uk/
