Lib Dem MEP Hall backs EU Missing Child Alert System

9.45.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 13th Jun 2008

Local Liberal Democrat MEP Fiona Hall is calling for the introduction of a European - wide child alert system for missing children.

The proposed child alert system would be similar to the 'Amber Alert' program in place in America - which has steadily gained publicity outside the US after the very public abduction of Madeline McCann in Spain in 2007, and ongoing hunt to find her. 393 American children have been recovered by 'Amber Alert' since 2003, with 80% found in the first 72 hours after alarms had been raised. France set up its own version of Amber Alert in 2006, and when used last year, all five children were recovered successfully.

Fiona Hall has signed a European Parliament Written Declaration which calls on Member States to establish a domestic missing child alert system that would see the mobilisation of relevant media, border authorities and customs and law enforcement agencies, so that when a child is reported missing, an immediate information bulletin can be produced.

At a European level it argues that cross-border co-operation is essential to ensure alerts are raised and proper measures put in place quickly and efficiently and calls for the development of a common organisation to train national bodies.

Giving her support to this Written Declaration, Fiona said:

"The success rate of 'Amber Alert' in America and France proves that an alert system works. That is why it is so important to support this declaration.

"The challenge for Europe is to make sure Member States work together, particularly to prevent children from being transported across country borders before disappearing entirely.

"The speed of response is therefore critical, as the likelihood that a child will be returned safely lessens as time goes on. A well co-ordinated approach is needed so that positive results like those in America can be repeated throughout Europe when needed."

Full text on Written Declarations including the Written Declaration on Emergency cooperation in recovering missing children can be found at this address:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/activities/plenary/writtenDecl/wdFastOngoing.do?language=EN&startValue=10#