Safe And Found Online (SAFO)

The Herbert Protocol is a national scheme used by Norfolk & Suffolk Police and other agencies which encourages carers to compile useful information that could be used in the event of an adult going missing. Someone close to the person (family member, friend, or carer) fills in the form, recording all vital details such as required medication, mobile numbers, places previously located, a photograph, etc. In the event of an adult going missing, the form can be shared with the police to reduce the time taken in gathering this information and inform the investigation to locate them more quickly, safeguard them more effectively, and return them to safety before any harm can come to them.

"Following the launch of the Herbert Protocol animation on 20 September 2024, we are delighted to have been part of the journey to bring the Safe and Found online digitalisation of the Herbert Protocol to Norfolk and Suffolk. This development makes good use of digital technology to streamline the process; it increases accessibility while keeping the information secure, supporting those living with dementia and others who may have a need for this process."  

Heather Roach (former independent chair Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board) & Anthony Douglas (independent chair Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership) 

Norfolk Police supports the use of the Safe and Found Online system - an online portal which allows carers and families of people living with dementia to provide important information online to assist police in the event they go missing.

Safe and Found Online is a digital version of the Herbert Protocol paper form and assists police in locating vulnerable missing people, launched in Norfolk and Suffolk on 10 March 2025.

Whilst Safe and Found Online is very similar to the Herbert Protocol form in storing key information on an individual, unlike the paper forms or computer files the current Herbert Protocol process utilises, the new digital Safe and Found Online system allows creators of the profiles to regularly update a profile with new and relevant information.

The information stored within the online portal includes:

• Known/previous locations
• Necessary medication
• Photographs
• Mobile numbers

The online profile can be created by a person living with dementia, family member or care giver.

Once a profile is submitted, it can be accessed by control room screens and officers' devices immediately, allowing for searches to commence without delay, increasing the chances of a successful outcome.

Visit the Safe and Found Online website to find out more and register a profile.

We also have a poster you can print off, and a graphic for social media too.

Herbert Protocol animation – launched September 2024

 

In March 2023, Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership (SSP) responded to a request from the Dementia Action Partnership (DAP), asking for support to raise the profile of the Herbert Protocol.  

SSP established a working group to consider how best to do this, which in turn agreed that a refresh of the Protocol would be of benefit, to update the forms and leaflets, and raise more awareness of it across the local partnership.

As this work progressed, Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board (NSAB) and Norfolk Constabulary were invited to join up too, a great opportunity for meaningful and positive collaboration across our two counties, who also share a health authority.

Suffolk and Norfolk police now have one home page for supporting responses for missing people; this links to Suffolk and Norfolk respective forms and promotional material for the Herbert Protocol has been included in the new web page.  

So the SSP, NSAB and police colleagues from the respective constabularies then sought out the story of the original ‘Herbert’, tracking down the manager of the care home where Herbert lived in north Norfolk, back in 2010. This gave us a much more personalised view of how the idea for the protocol began and gave us rich material for our jointly funded animation, which not only aims to raise awareness but also ensure his legacy lives on.

While the original protocol was about supporting Herbert within his local community, the idea was recognised by Norfolk police as a way to help find people who may go missing much more quickly, by having quick reference information immediately at hand.

So the protocol evolved to what we have today. We are also keen to expand the usability of the protocol for anyone who would benefit from having this protocol in place, not just those with dementia, but can be used for those with mental health needs, learning disabilities, acquired brain injury or other situations where people may go missing or get lost.

CC Animations have helped us to create a very human and positive story about someone living with dementia who needed additional support from his community to keep safe. We also thank the various multi-agency colleagues who helped to ‘sense check’ the material as it was being developed, and of course Steve and Lorraine, the owners of the home without whom none of this would exist.

Herbert himself had no family and died a couple of years after the protocol had been developed. But with this animation we hope his memory will go on.

We are proud to launch this Herbert Protocol animation on Friday 20 September, to link with World Alzheimer’s Day on the 21 September, at the care home where Herbert lived and the protocol came to life.

Launch at Dorrington House (Wells-next-the-sea) Friday 20 September

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Detective Sergeant Nicki Payne, who works as part of Norfolk’s Multi Agency Hub and in the Missing Persons Team said: “Caring for vulnerable people, including those with dementia, Alzheimer's, brain injuries or learning disabilities can be challenging.

There's a risk that they may get lost, even if taking a walk on a familiar route to a favourite place. Planning ahead to keep them safe is really important and makes such a difference in locating that person quickly and safely.”

Both constabularies are now exploring the possibly of a digital service to further improve the use and accessibility of the protocol documents.

DS Payne added: 

“We are extremely proud that the protocol originated here in Norfolk and that we were able to bring Herbert’s story to life in the animation.

“Working with our partners at Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board (NSAB) and our Suffolk counterparts we created a product that can be used by other agencies and police forces across the country to promote the scheme.

“Herbert’s story is the essence of a community pulling together to look after each another and we hope that the scheme will be used more widely as a result.”

Norfolk Police (Nicky), Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership (Will), Suffolk Police (Brett) and NSAB (Becky)

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Steve Dorrington helped set up the Herbert Protocol and with his wife Lorraine remains the owner of Dorrington House Care Homes.

He said: “George was a very independent chap, he fought for our freedom, and fought us for his too.”

Gary Crowther, who now works as an Operational Trainer within Norfolk Constabulary, developed the scheme with a colleague in 2009 while working as an inspector in the force. As part of his duties, he was a trained missing person police search advisor.

He said: “In 2009, I had no idea that the protocol would be replicated across the country to such an extent.

“I find it heart-warming to see that virtually every police force in the country has adopted it and could not even guess how many lives it has potentially saved.” 

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NSAB Independent Chair Heather Roach:

“I am delighted that the Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board became involved in creating this wonderful animation to support the Herbert Protocol. Knowing much more about Herbert himself and that the idea for the protocol was developed here in Norfolk, makes it even more special. I would encourage anyone who cares for a person like Herbert or indeed anyone who might benefit from their information being readily available to the police, to visit the Norfolk and Suffolk police websites to obtain the forms.

Safeguarding at its best is about keeping people safe, but allowing them to live their best lives.”

Would you like to adapt this animation for your own area?

This animation has been created (like our other ones) so that other organisations / police forces can easily adapt the final signposting information slide for their own local area - there is a small charge for the animation company to do this.

For more information email [email protected]