Yorkshire & Humber MEP Richard Corbett is confident a Europe-wide alert system for missing children will be introduced across the EU, after the European Parliament formally backed the idea.
The alert system, strongly supported by the parents of Madeline McCann, would exist to improve the chances of recovering missing children by ensuring all relevant authorities across Europe receive information and a picture of any missing children as well any details about a possible suspect. A Europe-wide hotline would also be introduced.
Labour MEP Richard Corbett said: "I'm pleased MEPs have formally backed the idea of an alert system and hopefully close cooperation between all EU countries will increase the chances of recovering missing children, as has happened in the United States following the introduction of a similar system over there."
The European Parliament's position will now be forwarded to the European Commission and the Council who must also decide whether they want to introduce the alert system.
Richard added: "I'm confident an alert system will be introduced and hopefully EU governments will recognise that urgency is the key and get behind the idea. The sooner it is up and running the better."
- The proposed missing child alert system, supported by MEPs, would require the immediate forwarding to the relevant news media, border authorities and customs and law enforcement agencies acrosss the EU 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 with information (116 000 where operational).
- Since the introduction of the Amber Alert in the United States 407 children have been recovered, with the numbers increasing as the system has expanded nation-wide - http://www.amberalert.gov/faqs.htm#faq6
more information
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