Lib Dems call for Amber Alert system (BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats)

BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats <info@banffandbuchanlibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems call for Amber Alert system

May 24, 2009 10:12 AM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrats will mark international missing children's day (Monday) by calling on the Scottish Government to play their part in a European wide Amber Alert system.

Liberal Democrats will use their Opposition Day on Thursday to call on the Scottish Government to work with the UK Government to take steps to improve our response to missing children. This will include making sure that missing children alert systems and cross-border cooperation policies like the 116 000 European hotline are operational as soon as possible.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Robert Brown said:

"9,000 children go missing in Scotland each year. For those at risk of serious harm, the first 48 hours are critical. An immediate response is vital.

"Liberal Democrats are marking international missing children's day by calling for Scotland to play its part in a European Amber Alert system.

"The US already has Amber Alert in place. It has led to the rescue of 397 children. We need the same protection in Europe.

"European countries need to cooperate to make sure that national borders don't get in the way of rescue missions.

"Amber alert would mean that when a child is reported missing to the police, in a matter of minutes all police forces are alerted. TV and radio programmes are interrupted and pictures of the missing child flash up on screens. Text messages are sent out to all subscribers and Interpol, Europol and foreign police forces are all put on alert. The entire European community can then work together to find this child.

"The Scottish Government needs to embrace the Amber Alert campaign. This means setting aside political differences with Westminster and working together to make sure that existing alert systems and cross-border schemes like the 116 000 European hotline are operational now. This dedicated hotline is already working in a number of other European countries like Belgium and Greece, but not the UK.

"We cannot be isolated from the rest of Europe. If we work together then we have a much better chance of finding missing children quickly."