Skills for ground sign awareness recces and assessments for operations.
The aim of this programme is to develop the knowledge, understanding, skill, attitude and behaviour of police officers who conduct ground sign awareness (GSA) recces and assessments for operations.
At the end of this training, the delegate will be competent to identify and interrogate ground sign in various environmental conditions.
GSA can be used in various policing operations including counter terrorism, crime and missing persons.
Ground sign awareness responders (GSAR) are trained in tried-and-tested techniques to tune into their environment, identify and interrogate various types of ground sign. This includes sign created by suspicious activity, buried items or the passage of a subject.
GSA is a complementary skill for licensed search officers, police search advisers, police dog handlers, crime scene investigators, rural crime officers, rural and covert surveillance officers and other agencies such as mountain or lowland search and rescue.
| Prerequisites |
Delegates must be physically fit and mentally robust. |
|---|---|
| Duration |
Five days |
| Accreditation |
Yes
Accreditation notes:
On successful completion of the course, delegates are certified as GSARs. |
| Course contact |
Police National Search Centre, College of Policing
|
Format and assessment
The course is a mixture of instructor-led sessions and practical exercises.
Delegates are continuously assessed throughout the practical components along with a written exam.
Course content
- Elements of tracking (EOT):
- EOT 1 – Sign
- EOT 2 – Factors which affect sign
- EOT 3 – Judging the age of sign
- EOT 4 – Information gained from sign
- Dynamics of a footprint.
- Facts and deductions.
- Pacing lanes.
- Clandestine graves.
- Tracking.
- Urban GSA.
- Night GSA.