Families asked to join dementia lost person scheme

Families of people with dementia are being encouraged to sign up for a scheme that provides police with information about them if they go missing.

Guernsey Police said the Herbert Protocol records details of vulnerable people through a form including required medication, mobile numbers, places previously located and a photo.

It was adopted by Guernsey Police in 2018 in partnership with Dementia Friendly Guernsey.

Supt Liam Johnson said: "It has proven to be successful in Guernsey since its introduction in 2018, and we continue to encourage islanders to engage with the initiative."

Johnson said the protocol was a "quick and simple way of giving the police information when a particularly vulnerable person, such as someone living with dementia, goes missing".

"Using the form can greatly reduce the distress for the family concerned as it helps us act faster when the report comes in," he said.

The Herbert Protocol was named after George Herbert, a war veteran of the Normandy landings, who lived with dementia.

Guernsey Police said if a person were to go missing the form could be handed to them to reduce the time it takes to gather key information.

Julie Bulpitt, Dementia Friendly Guernsey co-ordinator, said they were grateful the scheme was recognised by Guernsey Police.

She said: "There's no telling at what stage of a person's condition they might start becoming confused or forgetful, so we encourage people to be prepared by filling out the form if they are concerned about a relative. "

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