Protecting Vulnerable Persons and Reducing Demand of Police Time and Resources using Assistive Technology Abigail Salter (Hertfordshire Police Force) & Dr. Karen Shalev Greene (University of Portsmouth) This project was funded by Police Innovation Fund 2016/2017

Risks when missing Most people are found safe and well Risk of harm includes: dehydration, injuries such as bruising and abrasions, orthopaedic and soft tissue injuries, hypothermia, hyperthermia and death (Ali et al., 2015; Aud, 2004; Rowe et al., 2004)

Use of assistive technologies Ethical concerns Practical issues relating to the use of the devices Attitude of professionals, family members and patients towards this technology

Hertfordshire Increase of persons living with dementia in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 6 Month period of data 2217 Total of Missing People Missing Person Data request 01/05/2015 - 18/11/2015 Total No. of Missing Persons : 2217 Total High Risk Mispers 286 High Risk Aged 65+ 102 Medium Risk aged 65 + 57 Low Risk Aged 65 + 11 Misper Aged 65+ with Mental Ill Health 14 Misper Aged 65+ with Dementia 88 Misper aged 65+ with Alzheimers 20 High Risk under 18 67 Medium Risk Under 18 1159 Low Risk Under 18 273 Misper aged under 18 with CSE 58 Under 18 with Mental Ill Health 26 6 Month period of data 2217 Total of Missing People 286 High Risk 75 of these lived with dementia Alzheimer’s

Hertfordshire Repeat Missing Persons 65+ living with Dementia / Alzheimer's 21 of these (65+ with Dementia or Alzheimer’s) were reported missing on more than 1 occasion during this period. Combined, these 21 people went missing 79 times 102 policing hours involved £134K – so £268K Only 1 from a Care Home establishment – others from home address.

Hertfordshire Dementia sufferer Gwyn Morris, 88, ‘died possibly within 24 hours’ of going missing from care home By HertfordshireMercury  |  Posted: November 07, 2013    2015: An extensive police operation with 60 volunteers from the local community who covered an area over 6 days before his body was found in a field close to his home.

Hertfordshire Bid for Police Innovation Funding – Promote Greater Freedom and Empowerment Would Safeguard and therefore reduce risk to those at risk from going missing Reduce Demand on Police resources by reducing calls and shortening amount of time spent on locating

Hertfordshire Funding successful for ‘Proof of Concept’ Repeat Missing People living with dementia identified GPS devices purchased from Buddi Selected sample approached

Participants 6 of the 8 participants in this sample lived with a relative, who was most likely to be their spouse (see table 2). Participants 6 and 7 lived on their own and their sons were their designated carers. The average age of participants in this sample was 76 and 5 were male and 3 were females.

Participants The 8 participants included in this sample were reported missing 14 times to the police before the beginning of the project, ranging between 1 to 4 times. The missing incidents lasted, on average, over 3 hours ranging between 5 minutes and over 13 hours. Participants in this sample varied substantially in the distance they travelled during a missing incident ranging between a few yards away from their home up to nearly 20 miles away.

Issues running the project Setting it up Ongoing support during project Exit strategy

Good Practices Identifying participants Running the project Missing Persons incidents- quick identification and safeguarding (Henry)

Henry- Case Study Going missing without Buddi Was reported missing for 9 hours and 22 min. Aprox 25 police officers involved Estimated cost of investigation totalled £10,730.83 Going missing with Buddi Was reported missing for 2 hours and 38 min. Aprox. 2 police officers involved Estimated cost of investigation totalled £169.27.

Challenges Identifying participants Running the project Missing persons incidents

Thank You Dr. Karen Shalev Greene DS Abigail Salter The Centre for the Study of Missing Persons Institute for Criminal Justice Studies University of Portsmouth PO1 2HY Twitter: @ShalevGreene Karen.shalev-greene@port.ac.uk Tel: 44 (0)23 9284 3938 DS Abigail Salter Hertfordshire Constabulary Safeguarding Command  Police HQ WGC Herts AL8 6XF Tel: (0)1707 354816 Abigail.Salter@herts.pnn.police.uk