Actor and broadcaster Ross Kemp has endorsed a North East police force’s adoption of a practice aimed at more speedily locating missing vulnerable people.
The Herbert Protocol, which has been in place since about 2016, is now in force in the Northumbria Police area.
It involves family members, friends, or carers of people who are considered “vulnerable” completing an online form with all relevant details.
This information is then stored on a Safe and Found Online site and only accessed by officers when someone is reported missing and needs to be located.
The form, accompanied by a recent photograph, records vital information such as a physical description of the person, any medical conditions they have, their mobile phone number, known locations or places they may visit, contact details of friends, and any other pertinent historical information.
Line of Duty and Trigger Point star Vicky McClure recently met Northumbria officers to speak about the importance of the protocol in finding those who go missing after her grandmother was diagnosed with dementia and later died from the condition.
During her visit, she took part in Line of Duty-style questioning for a special video which was shared on the force’s social media channels promoting the Herbert Protocol.
Ross Kemp, known for fronting international crime-related documentaries, is an ambassador for Safe and Found Online, as well as being a passionate advocate of the Herbert Protocol.
The former Eastenders star said: “I would like to say a huge thank you to Northumbria Police for adopting the Herbert Protocol and using Safe and Found Online.
“It is a great conduit for potentially life-saving information to instantly pass between the public and the police when time is critical.
“Hopefully it will give assurance to families that if their loved ones go missing they can be found quickly and returned home safely.”
The Herbert Protocol is named after George Herbert, a decorated war veteran of the Second World War Normandy landings who was living with dementia.
He continually went missing from his care home in the Norfolk area, with officers having to locate his whereabouts.
This originally focused on those living in care homes, but in 2015 was extended to include individuals living in their own homes with dementia.
The Northumbria force has also adopted the Forcer Protocol, which gives police access to missing armed forces veterans' details should they have been signed up to the service.
This can include information such as a recent photograph, a physical description of the person, any medical conditions they have, their mobile phone number, known locations or places they may visit, contact details of friends, and whether they have previously been missing.
Veterans or their families have to give initial consent to those details being shared.
Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Ashurst, who heads Northumbria Police’s Missing Persons Team, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Safe and Found Online to develop our use of the Herbert and Forcer protocols in Northumbria and appreciate Ross’s support, which is very much valued.
“We believe using the service will make a real positive difference to how quickly we can trace missing, vulnerable people in our communities.
“This really reinforces our commitment to locating those who have gone missing from home.
“I know that in other areas the protocol has seen real tangible evidence that it is an incredibly helpful tool in finding people in these circumstances.”
He urged anyone with relatives or friends who have conditions such as Alzheimer’s or dementia to sign up to the service so the force can gather information as quickly as possible to keep their loved ones safe.
DCI Ashurst added: “The service is GDPR compliant and it uses two-way authentication so the details provided are fully secure.”
More information about the service is available via the force website or Safe and Found Online.
Families of loved ones who are living with Alzheimer’s and dementia symptoms can go online to register information about their relative or loved one.
Should the person go missing, officers can access vital information about them immediately.
Previously, the information was stored on a paper form completed by the family or the care home of the Alzheimer’s or dementia patient.
In some cases, it could lead to delays in finding and accessing the information if the form was not easily accessible.
Although the preference is to ensure all relevant information is stored online, the paper form option will still be available so people without the use of a computer can still access it.
To register for Safe and Found Online, would be users should go to https://safeandfoundonline.co.uk/register.php.
Further information on the Herbert Protocol is available via: Missing vulnerable adults | Northumbria Police.
Copies of the Herbert Protocol form can be downloaded by visiting: Herbert Protocol form (northumbria.police.uk).
See more crime stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here
The mysterious cases of the North-East people who disappeared without a trace
Police appeal to find missing Middlesbrough boy success
Missing person charity teams up with police to offer text lifeline
Get more from The Northern Echo with a digital subscription. Get access for 3 months for just £3, or get 30% off an annual subscription with our latest offer. Click here.
Physical copies of the form can also be obtained at any police station front office.
But reports of a person who has gone missing, always call 999.
If a completed Herbert Protocol form is in place for the person who is missing, those who have completed the form should ensure that police are informed at the earliest opportunity.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here