PFCC and Essex Police launch The Forcer Protocol on Armed Forces Day

To coincide with Armed Forces Day, Essex Police, backed by the PFCC, is launching a faster way to find and safeguard former serving military personnel who are lost, missing or in need of support.
Starting today (Saturday 28 June) a new initiative to support veterans and their families will be available in the county.
Former personnel can often find it difficult to reintegrate into civilian life after leaving military service.
If they then go missing while vulnerable, swift access to information about them can be critical in finding them safely before they come to harm.
Officers now have access to a portal through which they can find personal specific details already submitted by either the military veteran or their families, carers or friends, using a digital form in anticipation of them going missing.
The portal is run by charity, Safe and Found Online, to help police provide help more quickly.
The scheme – ‘The Forcer Protocol’ - is named after Lance Corporal Alan Forcer who suffered with complex PTSD and debilitating depression following service in Northern Ireland and Kosovo during the height of the conflicts, he sadly took his own life.
It was developed by Alan's former wife, Claire Lilly, who lives in Rochford.
She said: “As founder of The Forcer Protocol I am so incredibly proud to welcome Essex Police to the ranks of those taking vital action to protect and support our armed forces community.
“By adopting The Forcer Protocol, Essex Police is sending a powerful message—that everyone with an armed forces history matters and that their struggles are seen.
“This initiative was born from our deep personal loss, but it carries with it a promise of hope and prevention. It means even more to my son and I that Essex—our hometown and family home—is leading the way in this life-saving work.
“To know Alan’s life means this much is deeply healing and cathartic to us and we are truly moved to see our local force honour Alan’s memory with such compassion and commitment during Armed Forces Week.
“You are all incredible!!”
The Forcer Protocol is used by forces across the country and is similar to the Herbert Protocol which provides information for police when someone with dementia goes missing.
Essex Police has signed the Armed Forces Covenant which pledges our commitment in supporting former service personnel should they want to work for us.
We are proud to be part of the Defence Employer Recognition scheme (ERS), pledging our support to former service men and women and their families.
The idea behind the scheme is to ensure the armed forces community are not unfairly disadvantaged because they or their family have served as a member of the armed forces. This includes supporting them with the start of a new career. 

Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: “Claire Lilly is an inspiration and her dedication in establishing this protocol across the UK is admirable. We heard first-hand how the Forcer Protocol and the Safe and Found Portal will help frontline officers support armed forces veterans and we feel it will be an invaluable resource for all, further boosting confidence in community policing.”

Essex Police Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington QPM said: “As a former serving military officer myself, I’m very aware of the challenges veterans face in moving on from sometimes horrific experiences to adjust to civilian and family life. This is especially important in Essex with its strong military links, Colchester Garrison, and retiring personnel moving out from London.
“That’s why it’s so important that Essex Police is on the front foot to support our former military colleagues. The Safe and Found portal is a fantastic idea which will help them – and their families and carers – to help us get to them quickly when they need us, and potentially save lives. We fully support it.”