MEPs call for European missing child alert system

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 4th Sep 2008

This week, the European Parliament has formally adopted a Europe-wide missing child alert system which could help to ensure the safe recovery of missing children across the EU.

The system foresees that in case of a missing child in the EU or in neighbouring countries, an immediate alert with photo of the child and available information about the abduction is sent to the news media, police and border authorities.

A common European telephone hotline "116 000" should be operational for any witnesses who could give vital information about an abduction or children trafficking.

Inspired by the case of Maddy McCann, who came from the East Midlands, the European Parliament's 'Written declaration on emergency cooperation in recovering missing children', received the support of over half of the total 785 MEPs. Hence, it becomes now an official demand for action from the European Commission and from the Council which represents the 27 national governments.

The declaration also calls for the development of a common organisation to provide training and assistance to national bodies. Member States should also reach cooperation agreements with neighbouring and non-EU Member States so as to be even more effective on the search of abducted children.

Bill Newton Dunn, Liberal Democrat Member for the East Midlands, who signed and supported the declaration, says:

"Hundreds of children go missing every year and the EU as well as most of its Member States do not have any alert system in place to help to find them. We now need to encourage all Member States to take action and to put in place this alert system which is already running successfully in France and in the USA.

If we had an effective missing child alert system running in the EU and a close cooperation with neighbouring states, we would not only give hope to all families suffering the agony of a missing child but also significantly contribute to the prevention of abductions and of child trafficking."

The USA, who already has a similar alert system running, has found more than 400 missing children since 2003. Thanks to the alert system, 80% of them were found within the crucial first 72 hours following their abduction.