TVP supporting The Herbert Protocol to help locate missing people living with dementia

In September, Thames Valley Police will be supporting the Herbert Protocol awareness campaign, led by the MedicAlert Foundation, which aims to encourage more families affected by dementia to complete a Herbert Protocol and be better prepared should a loved one go missing.

The campaign, When Memory Wanders, runs from 13 to 30 September during World Alzheimer's Month and highlights the importance of having vital information readily available to assist emergency services in locating vulnerable missing people.

The Herbert Protocol is a nationally recognised scheme which encourages carers, family members and people living with dementia to record important information that could be used if a person is reported missing.

This can include details such as previous addresses, favourite places, routines, medical information, recent photographs and other information which could help police officers and search teams locate them more quickly.

People living with dementia are particularly vulnerable when they go missing, and early access to accurate information can play a crucial role in helping officers focus search activity and bring people home safely.

This information is made available immediately to police officers to help in their search for the missing person.

Thames Valley Police regularly deals with missing person investigations involving people living with dementia and understands the significant distress such incidents can cause for families, carers and loved ones.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Hannam from Thames Valley Police’s missing and exploitation team, said: "The Herbert Protocol is an incredibly valuable tool which can help us respond more effectively when a person living with dementia is reported missing.

"When someone goes missing, every minute matters. Having immediate access to accurate information about that person, their history, routines and places that may be significant to them can help officers make informed decisions and direct searches more effectively.

"We would encourage families and carers supporting someone with dementia to consider completing a Herbert Protocol before it is needed. Taking time to prepare this information in advance can make a real difference during what can be an extremely stressful and worrying situation."

One example involved David, not his real name, a Thames Valley resident living with young-onset dementia who was reported missing.

Information contained within his Herbert Protocol record indicated he often spoke about returning to Scotland to walk in the forests he remembered from earlier in life. This insight helped officers understand why he may have been travelling in a particular direction, and he was subsequently located safely near Bicester and reunited with his family.

The campaign also highlights the growing use of digital Herbert Protocol records, which allow information to be stored securely and accessed quickly in an emergency.

Rob Burley, Chief Executive Officer of MedicAlert Foundation UK, said: "When panic hits, a carer's mind can understandably go blank. Having important information prepared in advance helps ensure that vital details are immediately available when they are needed most.

"We believe everyone living with dementia deserves the protection and reassurance that a Herbert Protocol can provide."

For more information about the Herbert Protocol and how it can support people living with dementia and their families, visit the Herbert Protocol website.

KB