POLICE have issued important advice on what to do if a person with dementia goes missing.

Dorset Police are raising awareness of the Herbert Protocol, a national scheme that encourages carers, family and friends to provide and put together useful information, which can then be used in the event of a vulnerable person going missing.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: "The Herbert Protocol is a simple risk reduction tool to help the police in their search for people with dementia who go missing. It encourages carers or family members of adults living with dementia to collate information on those who are vulnerable on to the Herbert Protocol form, which can be given to the police if they go missing.

"The initiative is named after George Herbert, a war veteran of the Normandy landings, who lived with dementia. He died whilst 'missing', trying to find his childhood home.

"If you believe a person has gone missing and are concerned for their safety, call the police on 999 and tell the police operator that you have a Herbert Protocol.