Rachael Hamilton MSP has welcomed a new scheme launched by Police in the Scottish aimed at protecting adults and children with autism. Working in conjunction with local Health, Social Care and Education Partnerships, Police Scotland have been working hard to raise awareness of the Autistic Missing Person Protocol.
The Protocol will help police to find a person with autism who has been reported missing as quickly as possible. Its use will be extended to people with autism who are at risk of going missing. It involves recording important information about the individual for carers or families to pass on to the police in the event of someone going missing. This will reduce the time taken to gather such information and allow police to react more quickly to a missing person situation.
The form records vital information such as sensory needs, communication abilities, responses and reactions, favourites places and a photograph to share on social media if required.
The form, when filled out, can be retained by family, friends or carers, or placed within the home or educational setting, in a safe but prominent position so the information is easily available to police when required. This form can be obtained from any local police station in the Lothians and Scottish Borders.
Mrs Hamilton believes the scheme will be an important tool for authorities involved in finding people with autism if they are reported missing.
Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire said:
“It is vitally important that these protocols are implemented in order to safeguard vulnerable people within our community. I have been vocal in my support for people with autism in my role as an MSP, and I am really pleased that these additional measures are being taken to protect them in the Borders.
“This scheme is a step in the right direction for the protection of people with autism. It is a simple protocol, but if someone does go missing, I am confident that the forms will be helpful in finding them as quickly as possible.
“It is an incredibly worrying time when anyone goes missing, but especially when that person requires the additional support that people with autism so often do. I hope that this scheme proves to be successful in helping to find people with autism when they go missing. If it is, I will call on the Scottish Government to waste no time rolling it out to the rest of Scotland.”