Latest news with #HerbertProtocol
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Scots with dementia who go missing can be traced faster with new life-saving device
Alzheimer Scotland has partnered with Police Scotland to launch a small, yellow fob holding the personal details of a vulnerable person to get them home faster. Scots with dementia who go missing can be traced faster thanks to a life-saving new device. Alzheimer Scotland has partnered with Police Scotland to launch a small, yellow fob holding the personal details of a vulnerable person to get them home faster. If someone finds a person with a SafeConnect fob who appears lost, they can use their smartphone to tap the fob and access the stored information. The devices will be given free to anyone suffering from dementia under the initiative, which is being rolled out following successful pilots. Alzheimer Scotland said: "We're proud to launch SafeConnect in partnership with Police Scotland – a new safeguarding initiative to support people with dementia who may be at risk of going missing. "The SafeConnect fob is a small, yellow device that can be carried or attached to clothing. It holds secure emergency contact details and can be scanned with a smartphone using NFC (which enables communication between two electronic devices) to help quickly reunite someone with their loved ones or carers. "After a successful pilot in Argyll & Bute and West Dunbartonshire, we're now rolling out SafeConnect fobs free of charge to anyone living with dementia across Scotland." There are an estimated 90,000 people living with dementia in Scotland. Police Scotland say that at some point 40% of them will go missing. Since 2021, the Herbert Protocol has been rolled out in Scotland to help police and other agencies quickly and safely locate missing people who have dementia. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. It involves filling out a form containing an individual's vital details to assist police in the search of a missing person enquiry, such as their physical description, medical conditions, habits and routine. GPS decides are also being used by an increasing number of families to keep their loved ones safe. To request a free SafeConnect set-up pack or find out more about the initiative, contact our Dementia Advisor team at advice@ or call 0300 373 5774.
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Droitwich councillor urges families to join dementia lost person scheme
Families with dementia sufferers are being urged to join a police scheme that will increase the chances of officers finding their loved ones if they went missing. Worcestershire councillor Rick Deller, whose father has the brain disease, is calling for people to sign up for the Herbert Protocol to assist West Mercia Police and other would mean filling out a form that gives police vital details about a loved one with dementia. It includes their appearance, what medication they are taking and where they like to visit."A few years ago my dad went missing, and although it was for a couple of hours, it was awful and worrying," said Mr Deller from Wychavon District Council. "If the worst could happen and a vulnerable adult you're caring for goes missing, you underestimate how stressful it is to try and remember things like what medication they are father, Graham, started displaying symptoms in his 60s and is now cared for full-time. 'Be prepared' "Unfortunately, he's deteriorated a little bit, and he now has to go into a home to get more care and support."He still has the ability to hug his grandchildren, although he doesn't always know who they are, but they know he loves them."Sgt Cathy Atkinson from the force said she was proud of what Deller was doing to promote the scheme."Quite regularly, we have vulnerable people go missing, so we spend a lot of time liaising with families, going out to try and find them."The protocol helps us get all the information that we need to be able to locate them."By being prepared and completing the fall beforehand, it takes away that stress, so it allows us then to have a current picture so we know who we're looking for,The Herbert Protocol forms are available at police stations and across Droitwich in the library, the Salvation Army, and Droitwich Heritage Centre. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
01-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
New scheme helps find missing people with dementia
A scheme to help police find people with dementia who go missing is being launched. Called the Herbert Protocol, the scheme will see information about the person and where they might be made available by their families and collated on a will also see those with dementia given a wristband or fob with a QR code that can be scanned to reveal their next of kin's contact officer Sarah Williams said the initiative, run by Isle of Man Constabulary and dementia charity Forget Me Not, would "speed up the process of getting that person home safely". "At the moment, those living with dementia are greatly unknown to the police, so if they were to go missing we wouldn't have previous knowledge of where they could be found," she said. 'Life and death' Information provided will include a person's picture, name, height, weight, whether or not they have medication, daily routine, old addresses and places they are likely to fob's QR code can be scanned via an app and the person's name, along with contact details for next of kin, is £2,000 initiative, funded by Forget Me Not, provided 1,000 wristbands and 1,000 and charity staff will be in Strand Street outside Isle of Man Bank from 11:00 until 14:00 BST to provide information to the public as part of the launch. People will also be able to pick up forms, wristbands and Amphlett, from Forget Me Not, said there was a growing number of people with dementia on the island - now standing at 1, with dementia often go wandering and go back to places they had lived or worked in the past, she said, and the speed of finding someone "can be the difference between life and death especially in the winter".The forms can be found on the Isle of Man Constabulary website, while the fobs and wristbands are provided by Forget Me Not, police and from Admiral Nurses. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cumbrians urged to pre-register details to help find missing people
Cumbrians are being urged to register details with two protocols designed to assist police in the event of a search for a missing vulnerable person. Cumbria Police are signed up to the Herbert Protocol and Forcer Protocol, which provide officers with fast access to pre-registered information should a person with dementia or an armed forces background go missing. According to the police, access to this information helps officers with initial enquiries, with locations that the missing person may have gone to, and ultimately can lead to a person being found safely and quickly. Rob McCulloch-Graham, chair of the Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Board, said: "It is vital that people are made aware of the existence of the Herbert Protocol and Forcer Protocol so they can be used to help locate vulnerable adults who have gone missing. "Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Board commissioned the local adaption of an animation about The Herbert Protocol, and we are grateful for the support from Cumbria Constabulary in helping to launch the animation and raise awareness to support professionals and the wider community contribute to safeguarding adults." The Herbert Protocol is a national scheme that encourages carers, family, and friends to provide and put together useful information, which can then be used in the event of a person with dementia going missing. Information that can be provided includes details about the person, their past, their habits, and places they go. The Forcer Protocol is a similar tool aimed at people who have served or currently serve in the armed forces. This protocol provides officers access to veterans' details such as any known vulnerabilities or risk factors, and where they were found if they went missing before. Cumbria Police were the first force nationally to adopt the Forcer Protocol following a trial by Greater Manchester Police. This week, safeguarding professionals from across the county received a briefing from Cumbria Police on how both protocols work and what they can do to assist police ahead of a potential missing person incident. The briefing was organised by the Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Board. Detective Inspector Matthew Rees, who led the briefing and is the force's missing persons Coordinator, said: "It was really pleasing to be able to update safeguarding professionals from different agencies and sectors about how they can play a crucial role in keeping vulnerable people safe from harm. "Both the Herbert Protocol and Forcer Protocol provide officers with pre-registered information in the event of a person going missing. "This information can accelerate our initial enquiries and help inform our search operations." David Allen, Cumbria's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said: "A vulnerable loved one going missing is most families' nightmare. "That's why tools such as Herbert Protocol and Forcer Protocol can be so vital in helping locate those who need our help. "Taking a few minutes to fill in details about your family members or those in your care can literally be lifesaving. "I would urge anyone who cares for someone with dementia or has family who were in the armed forces to register and fill in these crucial details. "We all hope we won't need to use them but it is worth covering all our bases when it comes to our most vulnerable friends and family."
