Police are supporting a scheme that can help find people with dementia should they go missing from home.

This Dementia Action Week police are highlighting the Herbert Protocol, which encourages family and friends to keep a document that will help officers in the event a loved one goes missing.

The Herbert Protocol is a national process used by a number of police forces. Sadly, some people living with dementia are prone to going missing and can unwillingly place themselves in very dangerous situations by being unaware of environmental factors, such as their surroundings or weather conditions.

The Herbert Protocol encourages families to prepare for a missing episode should this happen. By collating key pieces of information such as a physical description, familiar places, health details and an up-to-date photo, families can provide police officers attending a missing person report with key information which can help in the early stages of an investigation to find someone with dementia who has gone missing.

Dementia Action Week aims to raise awareness of the condition and encourage people experiencing symptoms to seek support.

Detective Inspector Dave Savill said: “We appreciate how distressing it is when a loved one with dementia goes missing. Unfortunately, this can be a common occurrence and as a result it is important family and friends are prepared.

“We prioritise our response in cases of this nature to ensure we have the best possible opportunity to locate the missing person as soon as possible.

“Families using the Herbert Protocol can help officers to find a missing person faster, as they have the answers to lots of important questions straight away. This is the type of information which is key to locating the missing person as soon as possible, so to have it to hand at the start of the investigation assists us greatly.

“We work closely with our partners in the community to provide the best possible response to cases of this nature. This includes the Alzheimer’s Society and Cambridgeshire Search and Rescue and we all agree collectively that a proactive approach is vital to give us the best opportunity to locate the missing person without further incident.

“If you have a friend or family member who is living with dementia, please take the time to complete the necessary forms. Hopefully you will never need to use it, but should the need arise, it could make a big difference and reduce the amount of time the person is missing.”

For more information and to download a form, visit the Herbert Protocol page on Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s website.