Earlier this year, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson spoke at the Surrey Armed Forces Covenant Conference, to launch a life-saving initiative, The Forcer Protocol, in Surrey.
Access point
The scheme, dedicated to locating and protecting serving and former armed service personnel who go missing, provides a quick and secure access point to the missing person’s information and identifies support services and specialist aftercare to prevent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related suicide. However, it relies on current and former service personnel to sign up to it now.
Founded by Claire Lilly and named in honour of her husband Lance Corporal Alan James Forcer – a veteran who tragically took his own life due to complex PTSD – the protocol was created to ensure that no service man or woman would be left unsupported during a mental health crisis.
Adopting the Protocol in Surrey reflects a wider commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, supporting the unique needs, care and support required by current and former serving personnel.
A report by the Office of National Statistics revealed that there 253 deaths by suicide within the UK armed Forces community in 2021 – that is the equivalent of almost 5 suicides a week.
“Necessary initiative”
Ellie who holds the portfolio for military and veterans within the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner says: “The Forcer Protocol is a necessary initiative to appropriately support our armed forces community.
“For those who have dutifully served their country, it’s our moral obligation to recognise that the experiences they’ve had on the front line may impact their quality of life back home.
“The Forcer Protocol puts in place a joined-up approach to identify vulnerable people from the armed forces community, reducing the time to locate missing persons, and then providing support and aftercare suited to their needs.
“I urge anyone who is a current or former member of the UK armed forces to sign up. You can also sign up on behalf of a friend or family member. It only takes a couple of minutes and could save a life.”
For more information or to sign up for yourself, a friend or a family member, please register here.