New alert system for missing children in danger
1 May 2014 01:03 PM
The National Crime Agency (NCA) and the charity
Missing People have today announced plans to launch an enhanced Child Rescue
Alert (CRA) system to issue alerts at the touch of a button when a
child goes missing and is in imminent danger.
Groupcall Limited, the formal technology and
communication partner, will enable alerts to be issued via SMS, email, social
media and broadcast partners. The system will go live on International Missing
Children’s Day (25 May), but is already available for the public to sign
up to receive alerts via www.childrescuealert.org.uk.
Missing People Ambassador Kate McCann said: “When a child is abducted,
families are devastated and entire communities are torn apart. The agony of not
knowing where your child is, is almost impossible to imagine. The helplessness
is at times overwhelming. But there is now something we can all do to help.
Please sign up to receive alerts – you could save a child’s
life.”
The project is funded by:
- The
players of People’s Postcode Lottery through a £225,000 award from
its Dream Fund which gives organisations the chance to deliver a project
they have always dreamed of, but never had the opportunity to bring to
life
- The
EU through a €100,000 award as part of a programme to set up new child
abduction alert mechanisms across Europe.
Jo
Youle, Chief Executive of Missing People, said: “Every minute after their
disappearance is crucial to bringing a child home safely. Child Rescue Alert
will now mean the public and companies can help - and hopefully save these
children’s lives.
“This is a fantastic cross-sector approach to safeguard children in the
most extreme danger, which has been made possible thanks to the players of the
People’s Postcode Lottery. Via the National Crime Agency, police forces
across the UK will be able to request the public’s support with an
investigation in a safe way, using the very latest technology.
Charlie Hedges, Manager of Missing and Abducted Children at the National Crime
Agency’s CEOP Command said:
“The success of Child Rescue Alert is down to each and every one of us.
I’ve already been encouraged by the wide range of organisations which
have joined us in partnership to offer their support and help launch this
invaluable tool. Now it’s down to the public to sign up for the alerts so
we can send the message as widely as possible when a child goes missing.
“With the expertise of the National Crime Agency, Missing People and
Groupcall joining forces with some of the most powerful and influential
organisations, we can ensure that not a single minute is wasted after a child
goes missing.”
Further official supporters of Child Rescue Alert include BHS, The Sun, Press
Association, Microsoft, the Outdoor Media Centre, Hopewiser, Rock Choir and
Twitter.
In the Netherlands more than 10 per cent of the entire population receive, or
view, such alerts (Source: Amber Alert Netherlands). The National Crime Agency
and Missing People aim to reach one million people with Child Rescue Alerts
within the first year.
Awareness activity across May under the banner of Forget-Me-Not month will
culminate in the Child Rescue Alert system going live on 25 May, International
Missing Children’s Day.
Register today www.childrescuealert.org.uk