Local police officers are promoting the Herbert Protocol; a national scheme, which was first introduced by West Yorkshire Police, and has since been adopted by West Mercia Police, as well as other forces.

The Herbert Protocol encourages carers of vulnerable people to compile useful information which could be used in the event of a vulnerable person going missing.

West Mercia Police receives many missing person reports each year. These include many adults who have chosen to go missing, however some individuals are more vulnerable because of their age, health or the circumstances they find themselves in. For example, elderly people with dementia who live alone may be at a greater risk when they go missing.

While the majority of people return safe and well, when the person goes missing initially, this causes a great deal of worry to the person’s family, carers and friends, and they desperate for news that they are safe and well.

The purpose of the Herbert Protocol is to ensure that the police have all of the information they need about the vulnerable person, and that these details are recorded before they go missing, as a pre-emptive strike.

The reason for this is that the person’s family or carers may be too upset and not in the right frame of mind to answer the police officer’s questions after they go missing. If the information has been pre-prepared, this would greatly assist those investigating the case.

Carers or family members can complete a form about the vulnerable person in question, recording all of the vital details, such as medication required, mobile numbers, places previously located, a photograph et cetera.

If the vulnerable person should go missing, the form can be easily sent or handed to the police to reduce the time taken in gathering this information.

For more information, please click here.