Families living with dementia urged to sign up to missing person scheme

As part of World Alzheimer’s month, we’re urging families of people with dementia to sign up for a scheme that provides police with key information about them if they go missing.

The Herbert Protocol is a quick and simple way of having useful details at the ready if a particularly vulnerable person, such as someone living with dementia, goes missing.

When you create an account with our new provider Safe and Found Online, you’ll be asked to fill out a form that includes a loved one’s details, such as required medication, mobile numbers, places previously located and an up-to-date photograph.

The form will then be ready and easily accessible, should someone be reported missing at a later date.

You don’t need an official dementia diagnosis to complete the form.

Safeguarding and partnership manager, Stephanie Ough, said: “The Herbert Protocol is a simple, proactive tool that helps families have key information prepared and stored online if a vulnerable person goes missing in the future.

“It can also provide some relief to relatives at a very worrying time and result in swift and successful conclusion to incidents.”

The scheme was named after George Herbert, a war veteran of the Normandy landings, who lived with dementia.

Here in Staffordshire, the scheme is run through Safe and Found Online.

It’s free to register and use and we only access the information if someone is reported missing.  

Visit Herbert Protocol – Safe and Found Online

We’re here to protect you and your loved ones - contact us by calling 101, or always 999 in an emergency. You don’t need to wait 24 hours to tell us that someone is missing.