North Wales launch of Herbert Protocol

The Herbert Protocol has been launched in north Wales as an initiative between the Alzheimer’s society, North Wales Safeguarding board and North Wales Police.

The Protocol is named after George Herbert, a War Veteran of the Normandy Landings who suffered with dementia. George sadly died when he went ‘missing’ on his way to his childhood home.

The aim of the Herbert protocol is to help the Police’s response time to a report of a missing vulnerable person with a medical condition such as dementia who may become lost and unable to return home independently and safely. The Herbert protocol is an information form that can be completed with the individual and would be held by the organisation that completed it to ensure it is kept up to date.

The form asks for information such as personal details, next of kin, medical information, GP contact details, travel abilities, jobs, interests and hobbies, places they might go, weekly habits, previously found places and circumstances, and up to date photograph.

The aim is by having all this information already collated, it could assist the Police to respond quicker to finding the missing persons. Statistics prove the sooner a missing person is reported and a search is underway the higher the chances are that they are found alive and well.

The Herbert protocol form can be completed online or on paper and is to be kept by the organisation who has completed it, the police would only require the information if the individual goes missing. An electronic copy can be emailed to the control room or a hard copy can be handed to the first officer to arrive on scene.

Further information and a copy of the information form can be downloaded from
https://www.north-wales.police.uk/advice-and-support/stay-safe/herbert-protocol.