Carers and families of people living across Devon and Cornwall with dementia are being urged to take part in a new initiative which is being launched by Devon and Cornwall Police in partnership with Plymouth City Council and Plymouth Dementia Alliance.

The Herbert Protocol is aimed at finding those who go missing quickly and safely. The Protocol encourages families, carers, friends or neighbours to hold information about the person with dementia that can help the emergency services find them if they go missing.

By using an easily accessible form, carers can provide vital information about the person quickly to the emergency services.

This can include a description, a photograph, details of their daily routine and significant places in their life. This information is kept somewhere safe where it can be accessed quickly when required.

The information on the form is only used by those involved in the search operation – it is not kept on record once they have been found.

The form is available on line for use across Devon and Cornwall at www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/advice/missing-persons/information-needed-to-find-the-missing/. 

In the Plymouth area it is also available at memory cafés, Citizens Advice offices, council offices, health centres, Plymouth Hospital’s PALS office, the library or police stations.

The Herbert Protocol is a national initiative already being successfully used by police forces in the north of England.