Page 92 - SyI Quarterly - Q3 and Q4 Edition 2023

Chartered Security Professionals

Optimise Performance and Output of EOD Assets

Michael Brown CSyP

Image 4. Soldier checks the inside of a derelict building – 1974 (Source: Google)

The history of Search for the UK Police revolves around the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the Brighton
Bombing being the catalyst. The IRA stepped up its mainland bombing campaign on 12 Oct 1984, by
placing a device under the bath in a room of the Grand Hotel, Brighton.

After the event, the Home Secretary announced in the
UK Parliament that Military Engineers would be
intimately involved in training the UK Police in
Counter Terrorist (CT) Search. UK Police officers joined
the CT Search Wing (CTSW) the following year,
integrating with Combat Engineer Search teams for the
delivery of Police Search Training. This arrangement
continues to this day through a Home Office
agreement. The Police National Search Centre (PNSC)
(Image 6) moved to join the College of Policing in 2015.

Image 5. The Grand Hotel, Brighton, post Image 6. (Source: Google)
explosion – 12 October 1984 (Source: Google)

The UK College of Policing is the centre of excellence for all UK Law En-
forcement Search training (and select foreign interests). The UK
Police and Military have built a seamless understanding regarding where
Search starts and where EOD takes over. This has happened over many
years. Hence the UK Military has now adopted a ‘graduated and
co-ordinated’ approach to managing both capabilities and over the last 10
years has formed combined EOD and Search (EOD&S)`Regiments.

This initiative has been a huge success, encouraging and galvanising interoperability with Military Search
and EOD teams. Whist the Military will always associate EOD&S tasks as being ‘Explosive Hazard Mitigation’
or ‘Explosive Threat reduction’ orientated missions, they are much more than this. Approved Codes of
Practice (ACOP) that have been operationally tried and tested allow Search operators to utilise
methodology to successfully develop appropriate strategies that prioritise the safe planning and execution
of a systematic Search task to locate (prove or disprove the presence of) an item in support of a larger
operation. There are no limits to what can be located: concealed / discarded evidence, Missing Persons

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