Devon and Cornwall Police launch protocol to locate missing veterans
Forcer Protocol named to honour fallen soldier helps locate vulnerable service personnel
Devon and Cornwall Police have introduced the Forcer Protocol, an initiative aimed at improving responses for missing serving members of the armed forces, veterans, or reservists.
Named in memory of Lance Corporal Alan Forcer, who took his own life after going missing in 2020, this protocol allows pre-submission of personal information by family and friends before a crisis occurs.
The submitted details are confidential, accessible to officers only when someone is reported missing, and are intended to facilitate connection with appropriate support services once the individual is found.
Claire Lilly, former wife of Lance Corporal Forcer founded the protocol, and emphasized the South West's strong ties to the armed forces, explaining that many service personnel face mental health challenges.
There are nearly 80,000 veterans living in the South West according to police, one of the highest figures in the country.
The Forcer Protocol aims to identify an individual’s service background and supply crucial data for police to locate them.
Veterans and current service personnel can self-register, or be registered by friends and family.
Det Supt James Dowler, missing persons lead for Devon and Cornwall Police, highlighted the protocol's significance, as ''People don't tend to understand the personal battles that these people deal with when they leave the armed forces''
With the information submitted about the individuals, he says ''we can reduce the risk to that individual as soon as reported, and locate them much quicker''.