Joint scheme to help find missing persons

Guernsey Police is coordinating the initiative locally, which aims to gather all the information the emergency services might need in the event someone becomes a missing person.

Sergeant Alison Mauger said the scheme would save a lot of time.

‘Currently we have to send someone around to speak to the person who looks after the person and we would ask a lot of details about that person, like their previous occupation, previous addresses, friends and family addresses, whether they have been talking about anything recently and their state of mind,’ she said.

‘It can take a good one to two hours, because people are trying to find photos and the information or can’t recall addresses. At the same time the police officer is sat down asking these questions, they aren’t looking for them. So to have all the information ready to hand over takes just seconds.’

Entitled the Herbert Protocol, the national scheme aims to save time. The initiative was named after Second World War veteran George Herbert, who had dementia and repeatedly went missing as he tried to return to his childhood home.

Guernsey Police has been working with Dementia Friendly Guernsey.

Chairman Wayne Bulpitt said many people with dementia want to remain as independent as possible.

‘However, memory problems can make people feel disorientated and mean that they go missing unexpectedly,’ he said.

‘Keeping a record of essential information all in one place to give to the police, if needed, can help carers be as prepared as possible and provide them with greater peace of mind.’

Highfield House Care Home managing director Guy Mitchell said the care home had its own checks in place, but he said the forms were particularly important when someone with dementia was being cared for at home or in the community.

n The forms can be downloaded from www.guernsey.police.uk/herbertprotocol.