The Anishinabek Police Service has launched a new Vulnerable Persons Registry aimed at improving the safety of vulnerable persons who, due to a medical or physical condition, may be prone to wandering, bolting or getting lost, the Indigenous police service said in a news release this week. “Research shows that dementia is associated with an 18 times greater prevalence of recent critical wandering,” Anishinabek police said. “And nearly half of children with autism spectrum disorders attempt to elope at least once after the age of four, often seeking out small/enclosed spaces or places of special interest to them, which puts them at greater risk of injury or death.” Critical details provided before crisis By registering a loved one with the registry before a crisis, parents and caregivers can provide critical information about a vulnerable individual such as any history of wandering or getting lost, locations where the vulnerable person has previously been located, their daily routine, whether they wear locative technology, any life-threatening medical conditions and what communications methods work best for them. “When a vulnerable person goes missing, every minute matters,” said police. The goal of the registry is to have those vital details, as well as up-to-date photographs and robust physical descriptions, readily available to police to help expedite a missing person investigation and pave the way for a positive outcome. Who is a vulnerable person? A vulnerable person is defined as a person who, due to a medical, cognitive, mental health or physical condition, may exhibit patterns of behaviour that may pose a risk to that person. Individuals eligible for the registry include, but are not limited to, those who: “A vulnerable person can be registered by a parent, guardian, caregiver or someone with Power of Attorney (or similar authority),” said police. How the registry helps The registry provides police with readily accessible information and details that would assist in locating, identifying and safely returning a vulnerable person who may have gone missing. If a registrant is found wandering and is incapable of communicating their name to an officer, the registry could be used to identify the individual more quickly, and officers would use the contact information to connect with parents or guardians. Police said the registry is free, voluntary and confidential. More information and registration is available on the vulnerable persons registry page of the Anishinabek Police Service website.
