Alan Hirst

Dear Mr Bennett Thank you for your report dated 27 July 2026 concerning the tragic death of Alan Hirst. We extend our sincere condolences to his family and all those affected. We have carefully considered the concerns set out within the Prevention of Future Deaths Report insofar as they relate to Police Search Adviser (PolSA) training and national search capability. Concern 1: Whether police forces are unable to provide 24/7 PolSA coverage due to insufficient training provision The College of Policing delivers the national Police Search Adviser (PolSA) training programme on behalf of UK policing. The programme currently provides four PolSA courses per year, equating to approximately 100 training places annually. Training requirements are identified through an annual bidding process in which police forces submit their forecast demand for training places for the forthcoming financial year. Having reviewed the training requests received from West Mercia Police over the previous five years, all requested PolSA training places have ultimately been made available by the College of Policing. In some years, additional places were offered at a later stage and were not subsequently taken up by the force. The College keeps national demand under regular review and has demonstrated its ability to increase capacity where operational requirements justify additional provision. For example, during periods of increased demand the College has delivered additional courses beyond the standard annual programme.

[Page 2] The College's review suggests that access to national PolSA training places has generally been available where forces have identified and communicated a training requirement, although wider factors may also influence local PolSA availability and resilience. In considering the concern regarding the provision of 24/7 Police Search Adviser (PolSA) coverage, it is important to recognise that the availability of a PolSA at any given time is influenced by a range of factors beyond the number of officers trained nationally. These include local workforce planning, resilience arrangements, duty management and the prioritisation of operational resources. Information available to the Police National Search Centre indicates that a number of police forces of comparable size, and in some cases smaller than West Mercia Police, currently maintain arrangements that provide 24-hour PolSA availability. This would suggest that the ability to provide continuous PolSA coverage is not determined solely by the number of training places available nationally, or the overall number of trained advisers within a force, but also by how those resources are structured and deployed locally. In addition, in 2024 the College introduced the Initial Missing Person Search Adviser (IMPSA) programme. This provides forces with an additional means of developing search capability and resilience for missing person investigations by training larger numbers of officers in the initial management and search considerations associated with missing person enquiries. Concern 2: Prioritisation of training for forces with the greatest need. The allocation of PolSA training places is informed by information provided by forces through the annual bidding process. The College actively considers factors such as anticipated operational demand, major events, anticipated retirements, reductions in existing capability and other identified risks when allocating training places. Where forces identify an urgent operational requirement for additional PolSA capacity, the College is able to take such information into account when determining allocations and planning future course provision. The College therefore has mechanisms in place to prioritise training provision where forces identify a particular operational need and communicate that requirement through the established processes. Conclusion The College of Policing recognises the importance of maintaining an effective national Police Search Adviser (PolSA) capability to support high-risk missing person investigations. While our review indicates that national training provision remains available to forces that identify a requirement, we acknowledge the concerns raised by the Coroner and will continue to work with

[Page 3] police forces and national policing leads to ensure that capability, resilience and training arrangements remain appropriate to operational demand. Having reviewed the concerns raised by the Coroner, we are satisfied that:
• national PolSA training provision remains available to forces that identify a training requirement;
• there are established mechanisms through which forces can communicate urgent or emerging training needs;
• training allocations can be prioritised according to operational demand and identified risks; and
• additional resilience is available through the Initial Missing Person Search Adviser (IMPSA) programme. The College has engaged directly with West Mercia Police to review current resilience and capacity arrangements, to identify any immediate and longer-term training requirements, and explore opportunities to strengthen the availability of suitably qualified search advisers. Our shared aim is to ensure that forces are best placed to respond effectively to future high-risk missing person investigations and that any emerging gaps in capability are addressed in a timely and proportionate manner.

Dear Senior Coroner Bennett, Prevention of Future Deaths Report: Alan Hirst I write on behalf of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) in relation to paragraph 7, Schedule 5 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013, in relation to the prevention of future deaths report sent via email to the NPCC dated 21st July 2026. The notice sets out concerns that arose from the information received during the inquest into the death of Mr Alan Hirst. I am very sorry to read of the circumstances of Alan’s death. My sympathies are with his family and friends. I understand that the matters of concern raised are as follows: The inability of police forces to provide 24/7, 365-day coverage of PolSA responsibilities is being impeded by: (1) insufficient provision of training places, and (2) the number of training places made available does not appear to prioritise those forces in most urgent need of PolSAs or those that cannot fulfil 24/7, 365-day coverage. The NPCC recognises the critical role that Police Search Advisers (PolSAs) play in supporting high-risk missing person investigations and acknowledges the importance of maintaining an effective and resilient search capability across UK policing. The NPCC has considered this concern in consultation with relevant policing stakeholders, including the College of Policing, the Police Search Governance Board (PSGB), the NPCC Search and Rescue Working Group, and the NPCC Missing People Working Group. Role of the College of Policing and National Training Provision The College of Policing leads the development and delivery of national PolSA training and is responsible for the provision of accredited training courses through established national processes. With the support of our NPCC working groups as outlined above, and having engaged with the College on this important matter, I am satisfied that there is sufficient training capability and capacity to meet the training needs of all forces. This includes the ability to flex to demand where required. Importantly, there

[Page 2] are established mechanisms through which forces can communicate emerging or urgent training needs, allowing training allocations to be adjusted and prioritised where necessary. Local Force Responsibility and Operational Resilience Whilst the NPCC recognises the importance of maintaining adequate PolSA capability, decisions regarding the number of PolSAs required within a force and whether arrangements are established to provide 24-hour, 365-day PolSA availability are matters for individual Chief Constables and forces to determine based upon local operational demand, risk assessments, geography, workforce planning and wider resource considerations. Nationally, there is no mandated requirement for every police force to maintain dedicated 24/7 PolSA coverage. Rather, forces are expected to assess their local risks and ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place to meet operational needs within their respective areas. National Oversight and Governance The Police Search Governance Board, together with the NPCC Search and Rescue Working Group and the NPCC Missing People Working Group, provide governance, coordination and oversight of national search and missing person policy and capability. The NPCC Search and Rescue Working Group has a specific role in considering the sufficiency of national search capability, including PolSA training requirements, and works closely with the College of Policing and the Police National Search Centre to ensure that training provision remains aligned with operational demand. Following consideration of the matters raised, the NPCC is satisfied that appropriate governance structures are in place and that there is no current evidence to indicate a national shortfall in PolSA training provision. I understand that the College are engaging with West Mercia Police directly to ensure that any current or predicted training requirements are met. The NPCC will continue to work with the College of Policing, Chief Constables and national policing leads to monitor search capability and ensure that training provision and operational resilience remain appropriate to the risks and demands faced by policing.