We have just taken delivery of over 2,000 more NFC devices and lanyards thanks to funding from Bristol Water and Wessex Water in December 2022. The latest devices have QR technology as well as embed NFC chips which will store vital information about the wearer living with dementia to allow them to be offered assistance and re-united with their carer/family member if they become missing or in need of assistance. We have also been able to provide a new lanyard tag which is glow-in-the-dark for increased visibility in low light conditions.

If you have already signed up to the scheme you are welcome to collect one of our new NFC devices by calling into any of our 24 enquiry officers across the force area.

Acting Inspector Stuart King who developed and has lead the scheme on a voluntary basis (pictured) since its creation in 2015 commented “It is great to have been able to develop the NFC devices and increase the variety and options available for free to the public. We provide this service to some of our most vulnerable members of the communities we serve and our feedback has shown that it is helping to safeguard over 2,000 people living with Dementia across Avon and Somerset alone. We have been able to assist a number of other police forces across England, Wales and Scotland to trial or adopt the scheme so if you live outside of Avon and Somerset you may wish to contact your home force”

Attachments:

• free-dementia-safeguarding-scheme-nfc-devices.pdf