A new scheme has been launched across Essex aimed at reducing the time it takes to gather important information on a missing person with dementia.

Essex Police is adopting the Herbert Protocol, named after war veteran George Herbert who lived with dementia, as of today (Monday, August 14).

The scheme encourages carers, friends and relatives of people with dementia to fill in a form which could help authorities find their loved one quicker in the event of them going missing.

The form records vital details including medication required, mobile numbers, previous addresses or places of work, a photo, and details of the person’s daily routine.

It is hoped the details will save officers time, allowing them to begin searching for the missing person at the earliest opportunity instead of focussing on gathering basic information.

Assistant chief constable, Andy Prophet, said: “When someone goes missing it is imperative that police officers have as much information about that person as possible to help us find them.

“If that information has been gathered in advance it saves us precious time which can be spent looking for someone.”