Written Declaration: Introduction of an EU Missing Child Alert

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Written Declaration Introduction of an EU
Missing Child Alert

• Kate and Gerry McCann
• Sponsors E McMillan-Scott, G Kinnock, R
  Angelilli, D Wallis, E Gebhardt
• Brussels 10th April 2008

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Madeleine McCann
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Child Abduction

• Scale of the problem is uncertain especially in
  Europe
• In US approximately 115 stereotypical kidnappings
  per year
• 40-50 of the children are killed
• Death most likely in the first few hours
• Speed of response critical to optimise outcome-
  safely recovering the child

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US AMBER alert

• Introduced 1996 in Texas
• Following abduction and murder of 9 yr old Amber
  Hagerman
• System based on the emergency weather alert
• 120 systems
• 38 local, 53 state-wide, 29 regional
• Dissemination of key information to galvanise the
  public as quickly as possible
• Interruption of broadcasts (TV and radio),
  dissemination through media and wireless networks
• PROTECT Act 2003
• National AMBER alert coordinator in Dept. of
  Justice

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US AMBER Alert Statistics

• 393 children recovered since inception
• Over 90 since October 2002
• 80 of children recovered within 72 hours
• Use of the alert decreasing
• 2005 275 alerts for 338 children
• 2006 261 alerts for 316 children
• 2007 227 alerts for 278 children
• In 2007
• 68 children rescued directly as a result of the
  alert
• 16 children released safely after the abductor
  heard/saw the alert

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AMBER Alert Examples 2007

• Case 1 Dec 20 Portsmouth, Virginia
• 1 month old reported missing with care provider.
  After alert, 2 hospital workers recognised the
  childs clothing and abductor was apprehended by
  police
• Case 2 Dec 19, Columbia, Illinois
• 14 yr old female abducted at knife point, a
  motorist heard the alert and recognised the
  vehicle, called police who pursued the vehicle
  across state lines rescuing child
• Case 3 Jan 26 Maricopa, Arizona
• 6 yr old abducted by family acquaintance (sex
  offender). Suspect heard the alert and released
  the child who was safely picked up by another
  motorist who recognised the child from the alert.

www.ncmec.org AMBER alert/success stories
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EU Child Alerts

• AMBER type alerts
• France 2006 Alerte Enlèvement National
• UK 2006 Child Rescue Alert National
  (England/Wales)
• Greece 2007 AMBER Alert National
• Non-AMBER alerts
• Belgium NGO alert National

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Alert Enlèvement France

• Introduced 2006
• Used on 5 Occasions
• All children recovered successfully

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Support for an EU Child Alert System

• European Commission
• January 2007 Hotline (116 000) reserved for
  missing children
• October 2007 Draft guidelines presented
• Supported by Justice and Interior Ministers
• NGOs
• Missing Children Europe (21 NGOs 15 EU
  countries)
• ICMEC
• PACT

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Written Declaration

• THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT,
• Having Regard to Rule 116 of its Procedures
•  
• A Whereas the abduction of a child is amongst
  the most inhumane of crimes 
• B Whereas commission of such crimes is increasing
  in Europe and may involve transporting victims
  across state borders
• C Whereas the prospects of saving the life of an
  abducted child decreases as time passes
• D Whereas there is no Europe-wide alert system
  for child disappearances nor any local or
  national systems throughout much of the European
  Union

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• CALLS on member states to introduce a missing
  child alert system, the activation of which
  shall require the immediate supply to relevant
  news media, border authorities, customs, and law
  enforcement agencies, details of
• the missing child, with a photograph if available
• information relevant to the disappearance and/or
  the suspected abductor(s)
• a telephone number to call (116 000) and e-mail
  address

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• CALLS on member states to reach cooperation
  agreements with all bordering states to ensure
  the capacity to raise an alert rapidly across
  any relevant territories
• 3. CALLS for the creation of a common
  organisation to provide assistance and training
  to national bodies
• 4. INSTRUCTS its President to forward this
  Declaration, together with the names of its
  signatories, to the Council and the Commission

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EU Child Alert-Suggested Criteria

• The victim is a minor (lt18 years)
• The health or life of the child is at risk
• In the opinion of the law enforcement officer
• Information is available that may allow the child
  to be found with the help of the public
• Dissemination of the information is not likely to
  increase the risk to the child
• (Activated by law enforcement)

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Content of the Alert

• Day, time and location of abduction
• Name of victim, clothing and picture (as soon as
  available)
• Vehicle description (if any)
• Suspect description (If any)

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Format and Alert Duration/Frequency

• Poster-like info for TV, print media and internet
• Recorded voice message for radio, public
  transport, podcast
• SMS and MMS for mobile phones

• Short and focussed
• 3 hours- 1 week
• Frequent
• 15 minutes single depending on media
• Alert must be terminated

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Cross Border Alerts

• Reasons to believe perpetrator crossed border
• Abduction/disappearance occurred close to
  border(s)
• Abducted Child is a foreign national
• Perpetrator is foreign national
• Based on similar National alerts
• Groupings of Regional alerts depending on
  geography / timing of abduction

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Conclusion

• Child abduction is an horrific crime
• Alert systems save lives
• The public are a valuable resource in missing
  children cases
• The cost is minimal