Line of Duty’s Vicky McClure visits West Midlands Police

TV star and dementia campaigner Vicky McClure joined West Midlands Police to discuss their work supporting people with dementia. 

She was at the Force Contact Centre meeting staff and hearing about how officers use the Herbert Protocol to assists them when someone with dementia goes missing.

She met with staff to discuss the Herbert Protocol (Image: West Midlands Police) The Herbert Protocol is a form that carers, family or friends of a vulnerable person, or the person themselves can fill in, that contains information to help the police if the person goes missing.

Vicky spoke with call handlers, who are the first point of contact for people when they call the police, and with members of the vulnerabilities desk who support callers who have specific or additional needs.

She also spent time hearing about the work of the Locate Team who are a specialist unit dedicated to dealing with incidents where people have gone missing.

Vicky, who was awarded an MBE last December for her work in raising awareness for those with dementia, visited West Midlands Police on Monday (October 14) as part of their commitment to becoming only the second force in the country to be dementia-accredited.

Vicky McClure was awarded an MBE for her dementia campaign work (Image: West Midlands Police) Inspector Jemma Connor-Iommi and Superintendent Samantha Batey, Force Leads for Dementia Support, have been working with Vicky to help raise valuable awareness around dementia and the Herbert protocol both in force and across the wider West Midlands region.

Insp Connor-Iommi, said: "Having worked on numerous dementia projects with Vicky over the last couple of years I’ve seen first-hand how passionate she is about ensuring dementia isn’t a postcode lottery across the country, and that all members of the dementia community get the best possible support from forces.

"It’s been great to welcome her into the West Midlands, and as a force we have lots of plans over the coming months to work with Vicky, our partners and the community to ensure the West Midlands is a dementia-friendly place to live, work and visit.”

Supt Batey added: “We are committed to supporting people with dementia and those who care for them, but sadly our initial contact with them can often come at times of extreme vulnerability and concern.

“So we’re working hard to make that process straight-forward and supportive which will help us to resolve any missing episodes as quickly and safely as possible.” 

To complete a Herbert Protocol form visit https://www.westmidlands.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/missing-person/missing-persons/vulnerable-people-at-risk-of-going-missing/dementia-missing-risk-herbert-protocol/