If a vulnerable person — someone elderly, with dementia or a learning disability — has gone missing, act quickly but calmly. This guide tells you exactly what to do, step by step.
If you believe the person is in immediate danger — near water, roads, in extreme cold, or vulnerable to harm — call 999 immediately. Do not wait.
Call 999 if the person is known to be near water, roads, in extreme weather, or if you have any reason to believe they are in immediate danger. Do not wait to see if they come home. The police take missing vulnerable people seriously — there is no minimum time you have to wait.
While someone calls 999 or 101, another person should immediately search: all rooms in the house, garden, outbuildings, sheds, outside toilets, under stairs, anywhere a confused person might have gone. Check neighbour's gardens. Sometimes people with dementia are found very close to home.
Call 101 to report the missing person to police. You do not need to wait — report immediately. The police will not tell you to wait 24 hours. Any missing vulnerable person should be reported straight away.
The police will ask for:
Tip: If you have completed a Herbert Protocol form, give this to the police immediately — it contains everything they need.
Call Missing People on 116 000 — this is free, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They offer emotional support, advice and can help coordinate the search. They can also issue a 'Call 116 000' alert to help share information.
With permission from police, share a photo and description on local Facebook groups, Nextdoor, and with nearby shops, pubs and community spaces. People are often found by community members. Local care staff, taxi drivers and shopkeepers can be invaluable.
People with dementia often walk towards places from their past — a former home, a place of work, a relative's house. Think about where they lived 10–20 years ago, not just their current connections. Ask family members to think about this.
The Herbert Protocol is a scheme that encourages carers, family members and professionals to complete a form recording important details about a person with dementia — before they go missing. Named after George Herbert, a veteran with dementia who went missing in 2012, the scheme is now used by police forces across the UK.
When a person with dementia goes missing, you give the completed form to the police straight away. This saves critical time — the police have everything they need immediately.
Read our full Herbert Protocol guide →
If someone goes missing while abroad, contact the local police in that country and also call the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) emergency helpline.
If you care for someone with dementia or a condition that causes confusion, there are several things you can do now to reduce the risk and speed up a response if they do go missing:
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