Norfolk police have launched a probe after carrying out a four-day search for a pensioner who had already been found by London officers and taken to hospital.
John Boyd, 77, disappeared from fields near his home in Downham Market, Norfolk, on January 4, prompting Norfolk Police to launch a major search for the pensioner.
The force sent in teams of officers to hunt through dense, prickly undergrowth and along flooded farmland in a massive four-day search for Mr Boyd, who has dementia.
But Mr Boyd, a Salvation Army officer, had in fact been found by British Transport Police officers at King's Cross station in London just hours after he was reported missing and taken to hospital.
Norfolk Police said it would be launching a review to look into why it took four days to identify Mr Boyd, who was described by police as having 'vulnerabilities'.
John Boyd (pictured), 77, disappeared from fields near his home in Downham Market, Norfolk, on January 4 prompting Norfolk Police to launch a major search for the pensioner
Chief Superintendent David Buckley, Norfolk's County Policing Commander, said: 'As a matter of course, we will be speaking with partner agencies in London to see if there are any lessons to learn to make sure there were no missed opportunities which could have led to John being identified as found sooner.'
The four-day hunt saw police put up missing' posters with his photograph in shops, pubs and even on lamp posts and village notice boards amid fears he was wandering around with no warm clothes or food.
An appeal for help went out in the local Press, and police used drones to do aerial searches of the countryside, as officers went from door to door asking residents to check their CCTV.
Checks were made at local hospitals, taxi drivers were quizzed in case they had picked him up, broadcasts were made on local TV and radio, and parents taking children to school were asked to look out for him.
CCTV at Downham Market train station, controlled by British Transport Police, was checked but they said he had not been seen on any footage at the station or boarding any trains.
Police teams also looked through fields alongside the A10 on the eastern edge of Downham Market and his disappearance was circulated on national police systems.
But Mr Boyd (pictured) had in fact been found by British Transport Police officers at King's Cross station in London just hours after he was posted missing and taken to hospital
But, unbeknownst to them all, Mr Boyd had been found at King's Cross station just hours after he disappeared on Tuesday and
