Eight Police Officers Complete Specialized Mountain Safety Training in Andorra

Eight officers from the Police Training Group and the Technical Intervention Unit (UIT) have completed a specialised course on mountain travel and safety, delivered by instructors from the School of Sports and Mountain Professions (EFPEM).

The training, which wrapped up in recent days, blended classroom sessions with hands-on exercises to build on the officers' existing expertise in snow science and meteorology. Participants honed skills in secure navigation over challenging terrain, avalanche response techniques, and the use of key search-and-rescue gear, including avalanche transceivers (DVA), shovels, and probes.

In practical sessions, the group traversed various routes across Andorra, assessing real-time conditions such as wind patterns, temperatures, land features, and snowpack conditions to select the safest routes. The course also introduced core mountaineering principles, rappelling methods, and progression techniques using crampons and ice axes.

These enhanced capabilities equip the officers to handle mountain environments with greater confidence and speed, aiding high-stakes emergency responses as well as basic training outings for new recruits.

The initiative marks the Police's first partnership with EFPEM on navigation, winter operations, and mountain safety, following prior cooperation on sports training programmes. Continuous professional development remains vital to sharpening the force's skills and performance.