The grandmother of a five-year-old autistic boy has launched a campaign for a specialist missing-person alert system, warning that every minute counts when a vulnerable child disappears.
Grandmother Joy Watson, from Norton, Teesside, is a driving force behind Hello Theo, a new group of volunteer parents campaigning for safer, more inclusive communities for autistic people, those with learning disabilities and others at risk.
Their first major initiative, Project North Star, will explore a community alert system to quickly notify residents, businesses and organisations when a vulnerable person goes missing.
Joy’s grandson Theo is at the heart of the campaign.
Joy Watson and her grandson Theo.
Joy, who works in a GP surgery, said: "My grandson Theo is five years old and level three autistic.
"He has no sense of danger whatsoever. He's non-verbal.
"If we take him out we have to hold his hand tightly.
"His house is constantly locked. Our worst fear is if he ever got out."
Joy said the idea came after she researched missing autistic people and discovered Canada’s Indigo Alert system, which quickly raises awareness when vulnerable people disappear.
"When we started looking into what happens when autistic children and adults go missing, and unfortunately there have been a few lately, I came across Canada's Indigo Alert."
"To me, this is the gold standard.
"It's the sort of approach I'd love us to work towards here in Cleveland.
"That's really where our vision for Project North Star comes from."
The group hopes to work with Cleveland Police, councils and community organisations on a coordinated response tailored to the needs and risks of missing autistic people.
The project will also explore whether families could voluntarily provide photographs and key details, including communication needs, favourite locations and potential risks, before an emergency.
Joy believes immediate access to that information could save vital time during searches.
She said: "Our hope is that if someone on the register is reported missing, officers could access the information they need straight away.
"Because the last thing a parent should have to do when their child is missing is try to explain their child's needs, behaviours and vulnerabilities while they're terrified for their safety."
Hello Theo hopes to create a a missing-person protocol for vulnerable people.
While the wider alert system is still at an early stage, Hello Theo is planning a community pilot in Norton.
The Norton Autism Safety and Awareness Pilot would involve businesses, schools, nurseries and families, helping them understand autism and recognise when someone needs help.
The group also hopes participating businesses could receive alerts when a vulnerable autistic person goes missing nearby.
"It would help people understand and recognise when somebody might need help and how to help them," Joy said.
"If Theo was to get out, he wouldn't recognise his own name.
"Other people wouldn't want to be touched or wouldn't want eye contact.
"We'd share the information between ourselves and get it out as quickly as possible.
"We'd want to get the information out within five to 10 minutes.
"Obviously, that would need to be developed with the police and the right safeguarding measures in place."
Joy said the long-term plan is to start in Norton, learn from the pilot and eventually roll out a wider system across Cleveland.
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"Canada has Indigo Alert," she said.
"Our ambition is to develop Project North Star in Cleveland, starting with community awareness in Norton and working towards a coordinated missing-person alert system."
"That's our vision for Project North Star: bringing people and communities together to help keep autistic children and adults safe."