Kingston police is launching a new initiative aimed at helping people identify residents at greater risk of becoming a missing person.

The initiative is being launched in response to the borough’s high number of residents living with dementia, with half of patients over 75 at Kingston Hospital suffering with the illness - double the national average.

Police said people living with dementia can become missing persons, and officers, Kingston Hospital and charities are uniting as part of the initiative in a bid to stop the problem.

Kingston Police, Kingston Hospital, Dementia Friends, Staywell, Kingston Alzheimer’s Society and Kingston Carers are all giving a talk in which residents will be told how to spot the signs of dementia.

The details of the police initiative are also going to be explained.

The talk will take place at Glenmore House, in Surbiton, on Wednesday, January 18 at 7pm. Email Kingstonnhw@gmail.com.