A NEW gadget to prevent vulnerable people going missing in the borough is being trialled by Dudley Police.

As part of a partnership with Dudley Council, the police is introducing ‘pebbell’ trackers, which act like a GPS and mobile phone that can be used by relatives or carers of people suffering from dementia to monitor their whereabouts.

The trackers can pinpoint the location of someone who is considered at high risk of going missing, and can also be used to set a ‘boundary’ which sends an alert if the vulnerable person goes out of a certain area.

Families can text the pebbell’s own distinctive number and will receive a response which has a map of the owner’s location – it means they can locate loved ones without having to rely on police or partner agencies.

If they call and receive no response then the device will pick up background sounds which can also help to pinpoint the surroundings.

Just £620 of funding has been received by the police, who will be working alongside the council’s telecare service to pilot six devices, which can be worn around the neck using a lanyard or attached to personal belongings, such as a bag or dog lead.

The telecare service has already successfully introduced the technology to 30 of the borough’s residents.

One of those is the 61-year-old uncle of Elizabeth Orange, who has seen the benefits of the pebbell in keeping tabs on her uncle who had been reported as missing several times.

Her uncle has used the device for the past four months and since then has not gone missing, saving her from “several sleepless nights”.

Elizabeth told the News: “The pebbell is brilliant. It’s absolutely amazing. I think everybody who looks after someone who is vulnerable should have one.

“It used to be a real worry when he would go out, or we would go somewhere together and he would wander off and I would have no way in getting in touch with him.

“I didn’t want to stop him going out after he was diagnosed with dementia and my aunt passed away, but once he went missing for three days and the police had to go out and try and find him.

“But now I have an alarm that is set four times a day to remind me to text the pebbell to see where he is and make sure he’s safe.

“It has certainly taken a lot of the anxiety and sleepless nights away for me.”

An SOS button on the pebbell allows the vulnerable person to make a direct call to the phone of their loved ones giving direct communication in times of trouble.

The West Midlands Police pilot is being led through Dudley partnership officers Andy Arnold and Sarah Nixon.

PC Arnold, missing persons officer, said: “This latest technology is invaluable in keeping in touch with someone with dementia who can be prone to going missing.

“Those with dementia are able to keep their independence but can be tracked and give their loved ones and carers some peace of mind.

“The devices also reduce the demand on police resources in finding someone who has wandered off as they can be quickly identified by family members or staff from Dudley Telecare Service.”

Councillor Qadar Zada, cabinet lead for adult social care at Dudley Council said: “We are pleased to be working in partnership with West Midlands Police, providing support through our Dudley Telecare Service, to people with dementia.

“The pebbell is an innovative gadget which already supports many people across Dudley Borough who have dementia, and their families and carers.

“It really has proved that it can change people’s lives, providing freedom to people with dementia and reassurance and peace of mind to family members and carers.”