Kent Police Promote Herbert Protocol Forms to Help Find Missing Dementia Patients

How the System Works

The protocol involves carers, family members or friends completing a standard form in advance with key details including physical description, recent photographs, medical needs, emergency contacts and locations of importance to the missing person.

Information typically recorded includes full name, date of birth, medical conditions and medication, GP details, daily routines, favourite walking routes, and contact details for family and carers. The data is only accessed by police when someone is reported missing. Used to target and speed up search efforts.

Police Scotland, which rolled out the scheme nationally in September 2021, reports it has been used on many occasions to help return missing people with dementia home safely. West Yorkshire Police have taken the system further – offering a digital “Safe and Found Online” platform since 2023 for secure online storage of Herbert Protocol information.

The Scale of the Problem

Around 944,000 people are estimated to be living with dementia in the UK in 2024, with numbers projected to increase as the population ages. People with dementia who go missing face increased risk of injury and complications from untreated health conditions while disorientated.

Rapid location is crucial.

The scheme is named after George Herbert, a war veteran with dementia whose case highlighted the dangers of wandering and the need for better preparedness when someone with dementia goes missing.

Multi-Agency Approach

The Herbert Protocol represents a collaborative effort between police forces and partner organisations. In Northern Ireland, the Police Service launched the scheme in partnership with Dementia NI, local Health and Social Care Boards and Policing and Community Safety Partnerships.

And the scheme has been adopted across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, making it a truly UK-wide initiative supported by dementia charities and Age UK local branches.

Key Takeaways

• At least 40,000 people with dementia are reported missing annually in the UK, with actual numbers likely much higher
• Herbert Protocol forms provide police with pre-recorded information to speed up searches when someone goes missing
• The scheme operates UK-wide and has been successfully used by multiple police forces to safely return missing people

What This Means for Kent Residents

Kent families caring for someone with dementia can access Herbert Protocol forms through Kent Police’s official channels or partner organisations. Completed forms are kept securely but accessible for immediate sharing if needed. The scheme supports faster, more targeted searches across Kent’s diverse geography – from urban areas to rural countryside and coastal regions – which can be critical for safety outcomes. But carers should ensure forms are regularly updated with current information and that care providers, GPs and family members know a form exists and how to access it during an emergency.