Scotland must play its part in Amber Alert system - Brown (BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats)

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

Scotland must play its part in Amber Alert system - Brown

May 28, 2009 9:28 AM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Robert Brown MSP has called on the Scottish Government to play their part in a European Amber Alert system to help find missing children quickly.

Mr Brown will use the Liberal Democrats' Opposition Day debate today (Thursday) to call on the Scottish Government to work with the UK Government to improve Scotland's response when children go missing.

Commenting ahead of the debate, Mr Brown said:

"The SNP Government must make sure that Scotland plays its part in a Europe wide Amber Alert system.

"In Scotland 9000 children go missing every year. For those at risk of serious harm, the first 48 hours are critical. A co-ordinated and immediate response is vital.

"SNP Ministers must set aside petty political point scoring with Westminster and work 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."

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