The Midsomer MP writes:

Recently, I received an email from Sergeant Stuart King of Avon and Somerset Constabulary in respect of the excellent Dementia Safeguarding scheme that he has been running alongside his core police role since 2015.

The scheme, which reduces the risk of people living with Dementia becoming missing people across the Avon and Somerset Constabulary task force area, involves the 'Avon and Somerset Dementia Forum' (which can be found via Facebook), the Dementia GPS scheme, the Dementia Safeguarding Scheme online form (sometimes referred to as the 'Herbert Protocol') and Near Field Communication (NFC) bands.

Families, Next of Kin and local authorities can register people living with Dementia on the Force website (https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/forms/dss), which enables the police to have a head start in locating their loved one if they become missing. You can also request a NFC Yellow wristband for free, which are programmed by Sergeant King and sent out by post – enabling emergency services or community guardians to assist the person if they are in need. The wristbands are also available to care homes to ensure the safety of residents. The benefits of the NFC wristbands have been featured in a BBC article: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-55059003

The ethos of the Dementia Safeguarding scheme is about offering safeguarding measures to protect people, living with Dementia, coming to harm through a Missing episode. Since the launch of the NFC scheme in November 2020, Sergeant King has allocated out hundreds of the bands and has also had requests from many other forces, charities and support groups from across England, Wales and abroad seeking to replicate the scheme.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance: [email protected]