Cumbria Police Launch Game-Changer for Missing Veterans
Cumbria Constabulary has taken a bold step to protect missing veterans with the launch of the Forcer Protocol. This cutting-edge system aims to stop harm to service veterans who go missing after returning home.
How the Forcer Protocol Works
- Vital Info – Before They Disappear: Veterans, their families, or carers fill in a form detailing key vulnerabilities and risk factors. This info is stored securely on the Forcer Protocol – Safe and Found Online website, ready to be used if the veteran goes missing.
- Rapid Response: When someone is reported missing, Cumbria Police immediately check if they’re a veteran. The Force’s control room then accesses Safe and Found Online, unlocking vital details within minutes. This speeds up risk assessment and search efforts.
- Single Veterans Pathway: A referral system ensures veterans get the right support after being found, potentially cutting future police involvement.
- Wider Access: Anyone can sign up to the protocol, but Cumbria officers get automatic access to the details. Elsewhere in the UK, the missing person’s family must mention the protocol in reports.
From Tragedy to Triumph
The protocol was created by Claire Lilly, named after her late husband Alan Forcer. Alan joined the military at 16 and served in Northern Ireland and Kosovo before tragically taking his own life after going missing in May 2020.
Inspector Charlie Tresham of Cumbria Police hailed the initiative, urging veterans, reservists, and armed forces members to sign up via Safe and Found Online. “Having this information on hand could save lives,” he said.
Ross Kemp Backs the Initiative
Actor and veteran advocate Ross Kemp applauded Cumbria Constabulary for adopting the Forcer Protocol. He stressed the importance of Safe and Found Online in locating vulnerable veterans quickly and safely. Kemp revealed he personally knows veterans whose lives were protected thanks to the system.
With Cumbria now the second force in the UK to embrace the Forcer Protocol, this pioneering move offers fresh hope for safeguarding our returning heroes.
