The story of the man waiting for a bus

Most people would be forgiven for taking just one quick glance at an elderly man waiting for a bus.

But thanks to one passerby in Soham, who saw the same man again a few hours later, extra steps have now been taken to safeguard him.

The kind woman initially noticed the man walking towards Ely earlier that same day, and then again near the station, looking very confused and disorientated.

The woman spoke to him, and the man in his 80s showed her his bus pass and said he was going to see someone but couldn’t remember who.

He had no bag and declined a lift home from the woman who, still concerned, then called police at just after 3pm last Thursday (13 July).

Officers spoke to the man’s family and checks revealed he had dementia. We put further safeguarding measures in place, including the Herbert Protocol.

Do you know about the Herbert Protocol? It's a scheme the force supports that can help find people with dementia should they go missing from home.

It encourages family and friends to keep a document that will help officers in the event a loved one goes missing by collating key pieces of information such as a physical description, familiar places, health details and an up-to-date photo.

Carers, family or friends of a vulnerable person, or the person themselves, can fill in a Herbert Protocol form in advance, containing information to help the police if the person goes missing.

Keeping a completed form means you don’t have to try to remember the information when you are under stress if someone goes missing. And it saves time, so we can start the search sooner.

"It could make a big difference"

Detective Inspector Dave Savill said: “We appreciate how distressing it is when a loved one with dementia goes missing. Unfortunately, this can be a common occurrence and as a result it is important family and friends are prepared.

“We prioritise our response in cases of this nature to ensure we have the best possible opportunity to locate the missing person as soon as possible.

“Families using the Herbert Protocol can help officers to find a missing person faster, as they have the answers to lots of important questions straight away. This is the type of information which is key to locating the missing person as soon as possible, so to have it to hand at the start of the investigation assists us greatly.

“We work closely with our partners in the community to provide the best possible response to cases of this nature. This includes the Alzheimer’s Society and Cambridgeshire Search and Rescue and we all agree collectively that a proactive approach is vital to give us the best opportunity to locate the missing person without further incident.

“If you have a friend or family member who is living with dementia, please take the time to complete the necessary forms. Hopefully you will never need to use it, but should the need arise, it could make a big difference and reduce the amount of time the person is missing.” 

For more information or to download a Herbert Protocol form, visit our dedicated web page.