The Herbert Protocol

What Is the Herbert Protocol?

The Herbert Protocol is a national scheme used by police forces across the UK. It encourages carers, families and professionals working with people with dementia to complete a profile form containing key details about the person — before they go missing.

The scheme is named after George Herbert, a Gurkha veteran with dementia who went missing in 2012 and died from hypothermia before he was found. His death could have been prevented if police had had the information they needed at the start of the search.

When a person with dementia goes missing, you hand the completed form to the police immediately. This saves critical time — they don't need to gather information from a distressed family. They have everything to begin searching straight away.

What Does the Form Contain?

The Herbert Protocol form records:

• Personal information — full name, date of birth, address
• Physical description — height, build, hair colour, eye colour, distinguishing features
• Medical conditions — including diagnosis, medications, and whether they're essential
• A recent photograph
• Places they might go — previous homes, workplaces, relatives' addresses, favourite places
• People they might try to find — deceased relatives, old friends, former neighbours
• Patterns of behaviour — times they tend to walk, routes they might take
• Abilities and limitations — can they use public transport? Do they have a phone?
• Emergency contacts

How to Complete It

1. 1

   Get the form from your local police force

   Most police forces in the UK have their own version of the Herbert Protocol form available on their website. Search "[your police force] Herbert Protocol form". Some are available from the Alzheimer's Society.

2. 2

   Complete it thoroughly

   Take your time. For the "places they might go" section, think back 10–20 years — people with dementia often walk towards places from their past, not their present. Include places from childhood, first marriage, former employment, and relatives who may now be deceased.

3. 3

   Attach a recent photograph

   Use a clear, recent photograph — ideally head and shoulders, showing current hairstyle and any glasses or other features. Update the photograph regularly.

4. 4

   Keep it somewhere accessible

   Store a copy somewhere you can grab it immediately — not in a drawer you might forget. Good places: pinned to a noticeboard, in a folder by the front door, or as a digital document on your phone. Give copies to the GP surgery, care team and any other regular contacts.

5. 5

   Keep it up to date

   Update the form whenever the person's appearance, medications or circumstances change. Review it every 6 months or after any significant change.

Register With Your Local Police Force

In addition to completing the form, you can proactively register the form with your local police force so it is on their system before any incident occurs. Some forces have online registration — check your local police website.

You can also register with the Safe & Found scheme at safeandfoundonline.co.uk — a national database where carers can pre-register details.

Other Prevention Measures

• Consider a GPS tracker worn as a watch or placed in a shoe — see our care technology guide
• Ensure the person carries ID — a card in their pocket or wallet
• Tell neighbours, local shopkeepers and the community
• Consider door alarms or sensor alerts if wandering at night