Missing vulnerable adults
The Herbert Protocol
The Herbert Protocol is a national scheme introduced by the police in partnership with other agencies which encourages carers and family members to record useful information which could be used in the event of a vulnerable person with Alzheimer’s or Dementia going missing.
You can either complete a paper copy of the Herbert Protocol Form or complete an online version of the form.
Download the paper copy Herbert Protocol Form
Complete the online Herbert Protocol Form
What is the form?
The Herbert Protocol form records all vital details, such as medication required, mobile numbers, places previously located, a photograph etc.
Carers, family members and friends can complete a form advance of the person going missing.
In the event of your family member or friend goes missing, the form can be easily handed to the police to reduce the time taken in gathering this information.
This form could make a real difference. It could help reduce the amount of time a vulnerable person is missing, bringing them to safety even quicker.
What should I do if the person I care for goes missing?
Carry out initial checks for the missing person.
Inform family and friends, contact local clubs or places that the person may frequent.
Contact 999.
Inform the call taker that you use the HERBERT PROTOCOL and complete the red section of the form, before giving the form to police.
Where should I keep the form?
We recommend that you complete an online form as this can be accessed in seconds by police.
Alternatively you can fill in the paper copy of the form on your computer or print it out and fill it in by hand. Keep it somewhere safe where you can easily find it if the person goes missing. The form should be stored securely in the care setting, in accordance with data protection laws, but where you can find it quickly. The form could be stored by multiple people e.g. friends, family or neighbours.
It is recommended that multiple copies are made so that other care workers, neighbours or relatives have access if required. Review the information every 4 weeks or where there has been a change in personal circumstance.
You only need to give it to the police if the person goes missing. The police will ask you extra questions about what happened around the time of the disappearance and what the missing person was wearing.
The form should not be completed by police, nor should it be retained or stored on any police recording platform. The ownership for the form belongs with the family/carer responsible for the individual. The form is simply a method of adding completeness and efficiency to what police are told are told by the informant at the time of reporting.
Please make sure other relatives, carers or staff know where it is, and that the person it refers to is part of the Herbert Protocol.
Planning and prevention strategies for people with dementia
Reports of people with dementia who have gone missing while wandering away from home create a high police response. Wherever possible, planning and prevention measures should be developed to minimise the likelihood that a person who may wander will be reported as a missing person. Bespoke measures, appropriate for the person and their circumstances, will protect them from harm, provide reassurance for their family, and reduce the need for police involvement.
GPS Devices can include watches, smartphones and pendants. Functions vary by device, but may include GPS tracking, automatic fall detection and a personal alarm. They may also act as a ‘door alarm’ by sending an alert if the wearer leaves a specified location.
Tracking enables a family or other trusted contacts to be reassured that the wearer of a GPS devices can be located if they become lost, wander, or find themselves in difficulty. This function significantly reduces the need to involve police in a search.
Support available
In many cases, appropriate support for a person with dementia will go beyond this, and there are several police partners that can assist with wider concerns. This could be a person’s GP, community support, or their Local Authority. It may also include national and local charities, including:
- Dementia UK – www.dementiauk.org
- Alzheimer’s Society (Dementia Connect) – www.alzheimers.org.uk
- Age UK – www.ageuk.org.uk
The Winnie Protocol
The Winnie Protocol is a scheme created by Northumbria Police and the Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Safeguarding Adult Boards to encourage professionals to record useful information which could be used in the event of an adult going missing. This will support Northumbria Police and partners to locate and support the individual in the event of a future missing episode and reduce the risk of harm. The Winnie Protocol will be particularly useful for those adults who have repeat missing episodes.
Download the Winnie Protocol Missing Adult Form
What is the form?
The purpose of this form is to record important information about the person you support. In the event the person goes missing – the form will be used by the police, care workers and partner agencies to understand the person’s routines, interests and information as fast as possible. The form should only be completed with the consent of the adult, and ideally should be completed with the adult.
- Complete the blue sections prior to possible missing episode
- Complete the red sections when person goes missing
What should I do if the person I care for goes missing?
Carry out reasonable lines of enquiry to locate the missing person in line with the Joint Missing Adult protocol.
Contact 999 where there is an immediate risk of harm or 101 to make a missing person report.
Tell the call taker the person is subject of the WINNIE PROTOCOL.
Where should I keep the form?
The form should not be completed by police, nor should it be retained or stored on any police recording platform. The ownership of the form belongs with the family/carer responsible for the individual.
The form should be kept electronically in a safe place.
The form must contain up to date information and be reviewed on a regular basis. Try and have several copies of recent, close-up photographs of the person, this may help your staff and the Police when searching for them. This form should only ever be printed on the request of a representative of Northumbria Police following the adult being reported missing. This information should be held securely and only used by the police to assist with enquiries into locating the missing person safely.
The Forcer Protocol
The Forcer Protocol is a tool used by the police to ensure key information is available to us when we are searching for service veterans who have gone missing.
Complete the Forcer Protocol Form
What is the form?
The form enables police swift access to key information that can help to locate the missing person more quickly.
Service veterans, their informal and professional carers, family members and friends can complete a form which records vital information in relation to the veteran in case they go missing.
It can be amended as many times as needed which will make sure police have the most up to date information about the missing person.
What should I do if someone I know goes missing?
Carry out initial checks for the missing person.
Inform family and friends, contact local clubs or places that the person may frequent.
Contact 999 where there is an immediate risk of harm or 101 to make a missing person report.
Tell the call taker the person has a completed FORCER PROTOCOL.