What is the Herbert Protocol?

The Herbert Protocol initiative is named after George Herbert, a war veteran of the Normandy landings, who lived with dementia. It is a process to be used where there is a risk that a vulnerable person, particularly if they suffer from dementia, may go missing. 

It consists of a form for recording key information which the police will require if the vulnerable person goes missing. Carers, family members and friends should complete Part one of the form in advance, and obtain a recent photograph of the vulnerable person. In the event of the vulnerable person going missing, Part two should be completed, and the form plus photograph handed to the police. 

Who decides if a vulnerable person is at risk of going missing?

This should be based on your professional judgement or personal knowledge of the vulnerable person.

Who completes the form?

The vulnerable person and their family/carers, including care-home staff, should jointly complete part two. If appropriate, family/carers may do so on behalf of the vulnerable person.

The form should be completed as fully as possible and then kept regularly updated, so that all the information is accurate and current.

When should the form be given to the police?

The police only need the form at the point the person is reported missing and it will be used to assist with their enquiries to locate the missing person.

Where should the form be stored?

The form should be kept securely at the vulnerable person’s address or may be held by a family member, a carer, a friend or a neighbour. It needs to be readily available when required.

The form can be downloaded from various web-sites (includingwww.thamesvalley.police.uk ) and can be completed by hand or electronically. A paper copy plus the photograph will need to be handed to the police officer who attends to take the missing person’s report.

What action should be taken if the person goes missing?

A search of the address, grounds and outbuildings should be undertaken and then the police alerted as soon as practicable. Tell the police call-taker that a Herbert Protocol form is available.
Message Sent By
Alan Hawkett (Police, Sgt, West Berkshire LPA)

TAKE FIVE TO STOP FRAUD WEEK22-26 JANUARY 2018
Neighbourhood Watch is proud to be supporting Take Five To Stop Fraud Week. 

Take Five To Stop Fraud Week is part of the national campaign from Financial Fraud Action UK and the Government, backed by the banking industry coming together to tackle fraud. 

The advice being issued this week is really simple but it can stop you becoming a victim of fraud. 

1. A genuine bank or organisation will never contact you out of the blue to ask for your PIN, full password or to move money to another account. Only give out your personal or financial details to use a service that you have given your consent to, that you trust and that you are expecting to be contacted by.
2. Don’t be tricked into giving a fraudster access to your personal or financial details. Never automatically click on a link in an unexpected email or text.
3. Always question uninvited approaches in case it’s a scam. Instead, contact the company directly using a known email or phone number.

To read more about the campaign and to access all the resource sgo to
https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/
​

Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police, a man has been sentenced to two years’ and five months’ imprisonment for burglary in West Berkshire.
Paul John Tidbury, aged 29, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to one count of burglary at Reading Crown Court on 6 December, he was sentenced at the same hearing.
Sometime between 22 September and 27 September, Tidbury entered an unoccupied residential property in Church Hill, Wickham, and stole clothing and also a copper water tank from the property.
The theft of the water tank caused water damage to the inside of the property.
Tidbury was arrested on 6 October and he was charged with one count of burglary the same day.
Investigating officer, PC Nigel Woodall, of the Complex Investigation Department, based at Newbury police station, said: “This was a good result for the victim, who will have the satisfaction of knowing the Tidbury will be spending the foreseeable future in prison.
“This sentence should send the message that the courts take a dim view of those who make the decision to commit these offences.”

Message Sent By
Claire Williams (Police, Co-ordinator, West Berkshire)

Message sent by
Claire Williams (Police, Co-ordinator, West Berkshire)
Police are appealing for a witness who may have vital information following a burglary at a premises in Northbrook Street, Newbury between 1 and 2am on Monday (20/11), and who may have seen a group of four people putting on gloves on the tow path close to Camp Hopson. The group of four were in dark clothing and had yellow hippo bags.
There was also a white long wheel based van in the vicinity.
If anyone has information about this incident please contact the 24 hour Police Enquiry Centre on 101 (Ref 43170344872)

​

Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following a road traffic collision in which a vehicle failed to stop.
The incident occurred on 29/10 at 2.12am on the A4 Bath Road, Kintbury crossroads in Hungerford.
The victim, a 48-year-old man, was walking along the road with another man when a vehicle collided with him.
The vehicle, which may have been a dark coloured hatchback, did not stop at the scene.
The victim sustained serious head, shoulder and back injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment where he remains.
Investigating officer Sergeant Andrew Fordyce of the Joint Operations Unit for Roads Policing, based at Three Mile Cross, said: “I would like to speak to anyone who may have seen two pedestrians walking along this road at about 2.10am.
“The vehicle involved in this collision is likely to have sustained damage as a result of this incident, and I would like to speak to anyone who saw any dark coloured medium sized hatchback vehicles on the road around the time this incident occurred.
“Anyone with any details which could help our investigation is asked to call the Thames Valley Police non-emergency number on 101.”
If you have any information relating to this case, please call 101 quoting reference '260 (29/10)', or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.

Find out more about our campaign to raise awareness of abuse across Thames Valley.Our Hidden Harm campaign aims to raise awareness of abuse happening in the heart of our communities across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
Hidden Harm is the undetected and unreported abuse of a person or people. Abuse can happen in lots of ways, it doesn’t have to be physical. People can also be abused emotionally, psychologically and financially.
Over 18 months we will be bringing a number of different abuse-related crimes into the spotlight, encouraging members of the public to spot the signs and report their concerns. This will include:

• Modern slavery
• Child abuse
• Honour based abuse
• Forced marriage
• Female genital mutilation
• Domestic abuse
• Hate crime

The message at the heart of our campaign is simple – Open your eyes to abuse. It could be happening in your community so if you suspect it, report it.
We all have a role to play in keeping people safe from harm. Information we receive from members of the public is vital to ensuring we identify these crimes, protect victims and bring offenders to justice.
If you think someone you know may be a victim of abuse please contact us on 101 or 999 in an emergency. Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Follow the campaign on our social media channels using #HiddenHarm.


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Message sent by
Holly Turner (Police, Comms Officer, Thames Valley)
Three modern slavery crimes are recorded every week across Thames Valley*.
Could you spot the signs?

Today (2/10) we are launching our Hidden Harm campaign, raising awareness of abuse in the heart of our communities. 

Over the next 18 months we will be bringing a number of different abuse-related crimes, which often go undetected or unreported, into the spotlight. The first focus is modern slavery.

The message at the centre of this campaign is simple – Open your eyes to abuse.

It could be happening in your community, so if you suspect it, report it.

What is Modern Slavery?

Modern slavery is the illegal exploitation of people for personal or commercial gain. 
Victims of modern slavery can be any age, gender, nationality or ethnicity. They are tricked or threatened into work and may feel unable to leave through fear or intimidation. 

Spot the signs

Modern slavery could be happening in your community so it’s important you know the signs that could indicate someone is a victim of this crime.

•    How do they look? Scruffy, dirty, malnourished, injured?
•    How are they acting? Anxious, afraid, reluctant to talk?
•    What’s their work situation like? Long hours, unsuitable clothing, wrong equipment?
•    How’s their accommodation? Overcrowded, poorly maintained, curtains always closed?
•    What are their movements like? Never leave the house alone, limited contact with
     friends and family, no access to money or identification?

Report it

We all have a role to play in keeping people safe from harm. If you think someone may be a victim of modern slavery tell someone. You will always be taken seriously.

You can contact the Modern Slavery Helpline confidentially on 08000 121 700 or the police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. 

For more information about the campaign please visit our website.

*Figures are a weekly average of recorded crime between 01/10/16 – 31/03/17

Claire Williams (Police, Co-ordinator, West Berkshire)Thames Valley Police is appealing to the public after a spate of thefts from vehicles at motorway services on the M4.
Officers are asking motorists who may have stopped at the services at the times of the offences to check dashcam footage or mobile phone footage as they may have inadvertently filmed the crimes or the offenders.
If you were at the services at the following times and have footage from your vehicles then Thames Valley Police officers would like to hear from you:
Reading Services
22/08/17 – 23/08/17 – from 4pm to 7am
11/09/17 – 12/09/17 – from 8pm to 7am
22/09/17 – from 7am to 7pm
Chieveley Services 
18/09/17 – 19/09/17 – from 4.30pm to 5am
25/09/17 – 26/09/17  - from 6.30pm to 8.10am
27/09/17 – 28/09/17 –  from 6.30pm to 6.05am
Membury Services
27/09/17 – 28/09/17  -  from 7pm to 8am
Investigating officer Sergeant Alan Hawkett said: “There have been a spate of thefts from motor vehicles at Reading, Chieveley and Membury Motorway Services in West Berkshire. 
“We are appealing to the public who may have witnessed suspicious activity on the dates specified to get in contact. 
“We are particularly interested in reviewing any dashcam footage from those dates as people may have unknowingly captured offenders or their vehicles.
“The majority of the offences happen during the hours of darkness, curtain-side lorries are being targeted and large quantities of property are being stolen as well as and tools from commercial work vans.” 
Please can all dashcam footage be forwarded to [email protected]
You can also provide information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Sgt Hawkett added: “It is really important for customers who use the motorway services to be vigilant of their surroundings, paying attention to any suspicious activity and reporting this to the police.
“Always call 999 in an emergency. It’s an emergency when a crime is being or about to be committed, there’s a risk of injury, or there’s a risk of serious damage to property.
“If it isn’t an emergency call 101”
If you have any information relating to this case, please call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.