Injuries may be due to the dangers inherent in a rescue rather than any negligence on the part of the volunteer or the police. In 1996 the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs in another place looked into the mountain rescue services in Scotland. Regulation of mountaineering and hill walking, or compulsory insurance for participants, would not enhance the current system or make it cheaper, and would probably have a detrimental effect due to the loss of voluntary mountain rescue teams. I entirely agree with the sentiments expressed by the Select committee on Scottish Affairs. Voluntary mountain rescue teams provide an invaluable service to the community.
Mountain rescue is one of the most visible types of voluntary support from the public.
It is one we all know about, but many perhaps do not realise that it is the police who co-ordinate the rescue and call on the support of rescue teams. Mountain rescue teams are the most obvious group to need personal accident insurance cover. But they are not alone. Voluntary assistants help the police in other capacities. For example, with the rescue of potholers, and large-scale searches for a missing person.