Actor Ross Kemp has praised Northumbria Police's online initiative to aid in swiftly locating vulnerable missing individuals.

The Herbert Protocol allows people to register their loved ones’ details, which are crucial in the event of a disappearance, via Safe and Found Online.

Family, friends, or carers can input particulars such as any medical conditions and a recent photo.

Officers can quickly access this information on Safe and Found Online if someone goes missing.

The initiative is named after George Herbert, a war veteran with dementia who frequently went missing.

Originally focusing on those who live in care homes, the protocol was extended to include those living in their own homes with dementia on 2015.

Former Eastenders star Mr Kemp, an ambassador for Safe and Found Online, said: “I would like to say a huge thank you to Northumbria Police for adopting the Herbert Protocol and using Safe and Found Online.

"It is a great conduit for potentially life-saving information to instantly pass between the public and the police when time is critical."

Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Ashurst, who heads up Northumbria Police’s Missing Persons Team, said: “We believe using the service will make a real positive difference to how quickly we can trace missing, vulnerable people in our communities."

Visit: https://safeandfoundonline.co.uk/register.php