North Wales Unveils Pioneering Mountain Rescue Support Unit 2026

Key Points

• This has been done in order to form the first specialist police Mountain Rescue Support Team (MRST) in England and Wales.
• The MRST will cover North Wales and will offer assistance during cases where there are involved vulnerable people or when there are potential problems that might arise during such incidents in the mountains.
• Officers will assist along with other mountain rescue teams as well as emergency services when there are cases where an individual is at risk of injuring himself or someone else.
• The members of the team will have the necessary skills and equipment needed in working in the mountains, while still performing their everyday tasks as police force officers.
• Amanda Blakeman, chief constable, described the formation of the MRST as a significant step forward towards protecting the community and visitors as well.
• North Wales contains some of the favorite mountains in the UK and they are visited by millions of people yearly, however the terrain makes the task of handling any incidents more difficult for the emergency services.

Wales (Wales Times) August 29, 2026 – North uk/police/">Wales Police has unveiled a pioneering Mountain Rescue Support Team (MRST), marking the launch of the first specialist police mountain rescue support unit of its kind in England and Wales. The development comes as the force seeks to strengthen its response to incidents involving vulnerable people and volatile situations in the region’s mountainous and rural landscapes, where access can be difficult and risks heightened.

As reported by Nation.Cymru, the new team will operate across North Wales, assisting at incidents involving vulnerable people or potentially volatile situations in mountainous and difficult-to-access areas. Its officers will work alongside established mountain rescue teams and other emergency services, providing specialist police support where people may be at risk of harming themselves or others. The initiative reflects the particular challenges posed by North Wales’ terrain, which includes some of the UK’s most popular mountain areas, attracting millions of visitors each year but presenting significant difficulties for emergency services responding to incidents.

How will the Mountain Rescue Support Team operate alongside existing rescue services?

The MRST is designed to complement, not replace, the work of volunteer mountain rescue teams that have long served the region. Members of the new team will receive specialist skills and equipment to enable them to operate in those environments and work with other rescue organisations. The officers will continue in their normal day-to-day policing roles and will be deployed as members of the specialist team when required.

As outlined by Bayside Radio, the team has been created to provide additional specialist police support during incidents involving vulnerable people or volatile situations in mountainous and rural areas. The officers will work alongside established mountain rescue teams and other emergency services, particularly where people may be at risk of harming themselves or others and where reaching them could be difficult. This collaborative model aims to ensure that police presence is available in complex scenarios while maintaining the vital role of volunteer rescue teams in technical mountain operations.

What specialist skills and equipment will MRST officers receive?

While detailed specifications of the team’s equipment have not been fully disclosed in initial announcements, the force has confirmed that members will receive specialist skills and equipment to enable them to operate in challenging mountain environments. The training and kit are intended to allow officers to function safely and effectively in difficult terrain, supporting both search and rescue operations and incidents involving vulnerable individuals.

As reported by Policing Insight, the officers will continue in their normal day-to-day policing roles, but will have the additional specialist mountain rescue support skill and can be deployed when required. This dual-role structure means that MRST members remain integrated within their local policing duties while retaining the capacity to respond rapidly to mountain incidents when called upon.

What did Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman say about the new team?

Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman has publicly endorsed the launch, describing the creation of the first Police Mountain Rescue Support Team in England and Wales as a “significant step forward” in the force’s ability to protect communities and visitors across North Wales. In a statement cited by Nation.Cymru, Blakeman said: “Our officers regularly operate in some of the most challenging environments in the country, and this dedicated team will enhance our effectiveness, improve public safety, and further strengthen our partnership working with mountain rescue teams and other emergency services.”

As reported by Bayside Radio, Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman said the creation of the team was a “significant step forward” in protecting both communities and visitors. “Our officers regularly operate in some of the most challenging environments in the country, and this dedicated team will enhance our effectiveness, improve public safety, and further strengthen our partnership working with mountain rescue teams and other emergency services,” she said. The Chief Constable’s remarks were also shared via official North Wales Police channels, including LinkedIn, where the force announced it was “proud to announce the launch of our new Mountain Rescue Support Team, designed to strengthen our response to incidents involving vulnerable individuals”.

How does North Wales’ terrain shape the need for a specialist police mountain unit?

North Wales includes some of the UK’s most popular mountain areas, attracting millions of visitors each year, but the terrain can present particular difficulties for emergency services responding to incidents. The region’s rugged landscapes, including Snowdonia and surrounding uplands, are well known for drawing large numbers of walkers, climbers and outdoor enthusiasts, but they also create operational challenges for responders, particularly in incidents involving vulnerable people or volatile situations.

As noted in coverage by Nation.Cymru, the new team will operate across North Wales, assisting at incidents involving vulnerable people or potentially volatile situations in mountainous and difficult-to-access areas. The combination of remote locations, variable weather and complex topography means that standard policing responses can be insufficient, requiring officers with specific training and equipment to operate safely and effectively.

Background of the particular development

The launch of the Mountain Rescue Support Team follows a period of heightened attention to safety in North Wales’ upland and rural environments. Recent incidents in the region, including multiple mountain rescue callouts involving serious injuries such as fractures and dislocations, have underscored the demands placed on emergency services in difficult terrain. In August 2026 alone, rescue teams from the Ogwen Valley were mobilised for three distinct incidents in North Wales, assisting individuals with serious injuries, including fractures and a dislocated knee.

Separately, North Wales Police has previously convened emergency services and rescue organisations following a series of water-related deaths in the region, highlighting a broader focus on improving coordinated responses to incidents in challenging environments. The creation of the MRST fits within this context, aiming to provide a dedicated police capability that can operate alongside mountain rescue teams and other agencies in scenarios where vulnerability, risk of self-harm or volatility are factors.

Prediction: how this development can affect communities, visitors and emergency services

The introduction of the Mountain Rescue Support Team is likely to affect several groups in North Wales. For local communities, the presence of a specialist police unit trained for mountain environments may improve confidence in the speed and appropriateness of responses to incidents involving vulnerable residents in rural and upland areas. For visitors, the team could enhance safety outcomes by ensuring that police officers with suitable skills and equipment are available when incidents occur in remote locations.

For emergency services, the MRST may change the dynamics of multi-agency operations in the mountains. By providing a dedicated police element with mountain-specific training, the team could reduce the burden on volunteer mountain rescue groups in incidents where police powers or specialist police support are required, while maintaining the established partnership model. Over time, the development could influence how police forces across England and Wales approach policing in difficult terrain, particularly if the North Wales model demonstrates measurable improvements in public safety and operational effectiveness.