Parts of the system can be used to help find endangered missing children. A missing child is considered endangered when there are substantial indications that the child is at high risk of harm and/or in immediate danger, and rapid action is required. The police can then decide to inform citizens about the case.
AMBER Alert systems in Europe
AMBER Alert in your country
Missing Children
Find help
When your child is missing, or you have seen a missing child, please contact your local police immediately.
On this page you can find an overview of AMBER Alert systems for missing children that are available in your country. For all other authorities, you will find the contact details of the different authorities per country here. Search for the country concerned and contact the organisation.
AMBER Alert systems
In your country
Austria
AMBER Alert
Austria does not have an AMBER Alert system in place.
Missing Children
An overview of children who are currently listed as missing in Austria can be found on the Facebook page of Österreich Findet Euch.
Belgium
AMBER Alert (Child Alert)
An AMBER Alert in Belgium allows police officers to seek the assistance of the public when investigating child abduction cases. Visit www.childalert.be
Technical Tools available for dissemination:
- Federal Police- Service Judicial Organization-TV: responsible for the televised press releases. They edit the text, taking into account which information can/should be made public.
- Child Focus: A case file is created in the CRM Database by the case manager at Child Focus
The information of this case file, which comes from the Federal Police, is the basis for all dissemination: website AMBERAlert, banners for internet, social media, TV and Radio alerts, traffic signs on the motorway, paper poster campaign if needed.
The criteria for launching an AMBER Alert in Belgium:
- Life of the child is in danger
- Official request from the State who ask the launching of the alert
- Serious elements of the presence of the child in Belgium
Actors involved and their role in a national AMBER Alert:
- Federal Prosecutor – in charge of the investigation
- Federal Police Missing Persons Unit – Coordination
- Child Focus (NGO) – Hotline 116000 (childfocus.be)
- Federal Police DJO Perm. – Hotline
- Federal Police DJO/ OAR – Diffusion of messages
Missing Children
An overview of children who are currently listed as missing in Belgium can be found on:
Technical tools available for dissemination
In case of a missing child, the police are able to publish photo’s of the children on their website (see above).
Bulgaria
AMBER Alert
In Bulgaria an AMBER Alert allows police officers to seek assistance of the public when a missing child under the age of 18 is a victim of crime or/if it is in danger.
Directorates facilitating/publishing/issuing the AMBER Alert are:
- General Directorate of the National Police
- General Directorate Combatting Organised Crime
AMBER Alert Criteria:
- A report filed by the legal representative of the missing minor.
- There is evidence that the minor is/will be the victim of crime, or its life is in danger.
- Written consent/approval from the minor’s legal representative or from a prosecutor if there is a criminal proceeding for the publishing of an AMBER Alert for the minor.
- An AMBER alert can be published/announced/issued if there is an opportunity within 24 hours after the report on a minor missing or after a decision taken by the relevant police structure.
Services and tools used for the AMBER Alert:
- TV broadcasts
- Radio broadcasts
- Electronic media and platforms
- PRESS Centre of the Ministry of the Interior
- Transport companies
- Private billboards
- A (police) service phone number for the Alert
- Special message to all Police Departments
Missing Children
An overview of children who are currently listed as missing in Bulgaria can be found on the Lipvsa Twitter account and the Lipvsa Facebook page.
Croatia
NENO ALARM
On November 30, 2022, Croatia introduced the NENO Alarm, Croatia’s national Amber/child alert that allows police officers to seek assistance of the public in case of high-risk child missing (a child under the age of 18). The alarm can be issued regardless of if the minor has wandered away from his parents’ or home, has run away from a care institution, got lost on its own or is a victim of parental abduction, is due to many forms of danger at threat to become a victim.
The NENO Alarm is facilitated/published/issued by:
- Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia, Police.
Alert Criteria are:
- The missing person is a minor under the age of 18 years.
- A report was filed by the legal representative of the missing minor.
- There is evidence that the minor’s life is/will be in danger, or it is/will be a victim of seriously crime.
- Written consent/approval from the minor’s legal representative or from a prosecutor if there is a criminal proceeding for the publishing of an Amber Alert for the minor is needed but not mandatory if the police assess that there are circumstances of immediate life endangerment of the child.
The Alert information contains:
- Basic information on the minor.
- Short description of the missing minor’s case.
- Link to the missing minor’s profile on the website of National Register of Missing Persons.
Activation Steps of the NENO Alarm:
1. The responsible organisational unit of the Ministry of the Interior responsible for activating the alarm sends Meta/Facebook an e-mail containing a brief description of the case, accompanied by a description of the minor and the link to the minor’s profile in the National Register of Missing Persons. Meta has set up a dedicated 24/7 e-mail address. The data of the minor’s profile within the National Register of Missing Persons can be amended and updated as needed and at any time.
2. Meta immediately issues an alert for Meta/Facebook and Instagram users in Croatia within 160 km of the site of the minor’s disappearance. The users of both platforms in the alert’s range receive an alert in form of a notification with a brief description of the case. The alert is displayed even if the respective applications are not open. The alert remains active on Meta/Facebook and Instagram for 24 hours or until cancelled before expiration of the 24-hour period.
3. In case of revoking of the alert, when a minor is found, the responsible organisational unit of the Ministry of the Interior adequately informs Meta/Facebook by e-mail with a brief description of the result. After completion of the search users of Meta/Facebook and Instagram are notified accordingly.
Services and tools used for the NENO Alarm:
- Website of the police National Register of Missing Persons, hosting the missing minor’s profile.
- Special e-mail address for communication between Meta and responsible Police Unit
- Meta/Facebook/ Instagram alerting launched by Meta for users within the radius of 160 km of the last known whereabouts/places of disappearance of the minor.
- A police service phone number for the Alert.
- PRESS Centre of the Ministry of the Interior.
- Special internal notification to all Police Departments.
Cyprus
AMBER Alert (Child Alert)
An AMBER Alert in Cyprus allows police officers to seek the assistance of the public when investigating child abduction cases. Visit: www.childalert.org.cy
Technical tools available for dissemination
- TV broadcasters, Radio stations, electronic media and platforms (such as websites and apps) : visual and audio messages
- Press agencies: printed messages
- Transport companies (airport, harbors, bus shuttles: visual and printed messages
- Billboard companies: printed messages
- Banks: visual messages
- Dissemination through 116000 Hotline
The public will be actively engaged to gather information regarding the case.
The criteria for launching an AMBER Alert in Cyprus:
- Report declaring the disappearance by the Cyprus Police or a relevant international body
- Affidavit of parent(s)/guardian(s), i.e. written consent for use of personal data and photograph
- In the case of parental abduction, custody document and all accompanying legal documents as well as evidence that the child’s well-being is at severe risk or danger
- In case of unilateral guardianship a true copy of the judicial decision that proves guardianship rights
Actors involved and their role in a national AMBER Alert:
- “Hope For Children” UNCRC Policy Center – Operator (www.uncrcpc.org)
- Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family – Operator (www.domviolence.org.cy)
Missing Children
An overview of children who are currently listed as missing in Cyprus can be found on: the Child Alert website or on the Cyprus Police website.
Technical tools available for dissemination
Website, apps (Android and iOS).
Czech Republic
AMBER Alert (NKMPPD)
The AMBER Alert system in the Czech Republic (NKMPPD) is a system developed to facilitate timely and successful rescue of the missing children. It engages general public and provides psychological support to the missing children’s families. The system is based on search operations performed by the Police of the Czech Republic, assisted (when necessary) by the Integrated Emergency System and other relevant subjects.
Visit: www.pomoztemenajitvcas.webnode.cz/ or www.aplikace.policie.cz/
Technical Tools available for dissemination:
- Mass media (national TV channels and radio stations, online broadcasting)
- Internet: police information service (www.policie.cz), MoI NKMPPD web page (www.pomoztemenajitvcas.webnode.cz/), AMBER Alert Europe (www.amberalert.eu), AMBER Alert Slovakia (www.amberalert.sk), etc.
- Internet messages, RSS (for those who are registered)
- Police-to-police tools see the above description of decision making process
The criteria for launching an AMBER Alert in the Czech Republic:
1. The missing child is under 15 years of age and his/her life or health is in danger plus any of the following criteria:
- The child may become a victim of an accident due to his/her age
- The child has no access to his/her life-supporting medicin
- The child is physically or psychologically handicapped
- The case involves abduction with signs of violence, with the potential offender suffering from mental condition, unstable with possible unforeseeable reactions, or when previous threats by the potential offender or other circumstantial evidence suggest that the child’s life or health are in danger.
2. The child is aged 15 to 18 and subject to other conditions (i.e. the child is physically or mentally handicapped or has no access to the life-supporting medicine)
Actors involved and their role in a national AMBER Alert:
- Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic – coordination, supervision
- Police of the Czech Republic – search operations (www.policie.cz)
Missing Children
An overview of children who are currently listed as missing in the Czech Republic can be found on: aplikace.policie.cz
Denmark
AMBER Alert
Denmark does not have an AMBER Alert system in place.
Missing Children
No information available.
Estonia
AMBER Alert
Estonia does not have an AMBER Alert system in place.
Missing Children
An overview of children who are currently listed as missing in Estonia can be found on the Estonian Police website.
Finland
AMBER Alert
Finland does not have an AMBER Alert system in place.
Missing Children
An overview of the children who are currently listed as missing in Finland van be found on the Finnish Police website or on https://yle.fi/aihe/termi/freebase/m0404n/kadonnut-henkilo.
France
AMBER Alert (Alerte Enlèvement)
An AMBER Alert in France allows police officers to seek the assistance of the public when investigating child abduction cases. Visit: www.alerte-enlevement.gouv.fr
Technical Tools available for dissemination:
TV, radio, billboards, partnerships with major transport companies (train, metro, bus), social networks (Facebook).
For the collection of evidence, dedicated room with software for receipt of calls which generates sheets for each caller.
Other information:
- Local communication: the prosecutor decides whether or not to involve all partners, If required, there can be a concentration on local communication.
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Message content can not be modified. It is concise (so that everyone can use it) and accompanied by a photo of the child (where possible) plus details of the abduction.
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A free hotline is set up to receive sightings.
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An alert lasts 3 hours then stops even if the minor and/or the suspect have not been found.
The criteria for launching an AMBER Alert in France:
The AMBER Alert plan is not activated for a straightforward disappearance even if serious, but in cases of aggravated abduction.
The plan is activated by a Procureur de la République (state prosecutor)in consultation with the Procureur Général (public prosecutor) and the Ministry of Justice. It is the Procureur de la République who draws up the Alert message.
- Victim is a minor
- Abduction confirmed
- Victim is in danger
- Existence of elements to distribute
Actors involved and their role in an AMBER Alert:
DCPJ – Central Office for the prevention of violence against persons. Their role is to further develop “abduction alert” and put in place operational implementation of the device “abduction alert” (management of toll + workshop verifying the data collected).
Missing Children
An overview of children who are currently listed as missing in France can be found on: www.116000enfantsdisparus.fr.
According to the French law any disappearance of a minor is to be considered a worrying disappearance.
- Disappearance of a minor/ adult – any disappearance of a minor is to be considered a worrying disappearance.
- Running away is not a crime. However, anyone helping a minor run away can be prosecuted for abduction of a minor under article 227-8 of the Penal Code. This is considered as breaching parental responsibility.
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Parental child abduction – Articles of the Penal code relating to parental child abduction: the expression «parental child abduction» does not appear as such in the Penal Code. It classes these offences in Section 3 under “breaches of parental responsibility”. Such offences are dealt with by the criminal courts.
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Parental responsibility – The exercise of parental responsibility where parents are separated – Civil Code Article 373-2The separation of parents does not affect the rules on the devolution of parental responsibility.Both mother and father must maintain personal relations with the child and respect his relationship with the other parent.Any change of residence of one of the parents, if it alters the circumstances of the exercise of parental responsibility, must be communicated in advance with adequate notice to the other parent. In cases of disagreement, the parent most adversely affected informs the Family Court which will make a judgment in the best interests of the child. The judge will decide on the travel costs and adjust the contribution to the child’s maintenance accordingly.
The legal responsibility of parents towards their child while a minor (Article 1384): since the father and mother exercise parental authority they are jointly responsible for any damage caused by their children living with them while they are minors. This responsibility applies unless the father and mother can prove that they could not prevent the fact giving rise to this responsibility.
Germany
AMBER Alert
There currently is no AMBER Alert in Germany.
Greece
AMBER Alert (AMBER Alert Hellas)
An AMBER Alert in Greece allows police officers to seek the assistance of the public when investigating child abduction cases. Visit: www.hamogelo.gr
Technical Tools available for dissemination:
- Call Centre, IP, Cisco
- Contact Centre, Cisco, CRM software by Oracle
- Immediate intervention vehicles
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Social Media
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SMS platform
The criteria for launching an AMBER Alert in Greece:
- The child involved is a minor
- Strong indications that the minor’s life or health might be in danger
- Suspicion that the child might have been abducted
- The launch of the Amber Alert will offer assistance in locating the child
- Police determines that the activation of the Amber Alert will not endanger the minor’s life
Actors involved and their role in a national AMBER Alert:
- Hellenic Police – Receives missing child report, decides the launch of the alert, conducts investigations
- The Smile of the Child – Designated authority responsible for the activation of the Amber Alert upon decision made by the Hellenic Police (www.hamogelo.gr)
- Search & Rescue Team “Thanasis Makris” – Search & rescue services. Established by the Smile of the Child with the participation of the competent public bodies & certified voluntary organizations
- Mass Media (TV & radio stations, internet providers and mobile companies – Dissemination partner
- Airports – Dissemination partner
- Attica Metro Operations Company – Dissemination partner
- Attica Roads and Highways – Dissemination partner
Missing Children
An overview of children who are currently listed as missing in Greece can be found on: www.hamogelo.gr
Hungary
AMBER Alert
Hungary does not have an AMBER Alert system in place.
Missing Children
An overview of children who are currently listed as missing in Hungary can be found on: www.police.hu (please click on Eltűnt, ismeretlen helyen lévő személyek for a complete overview).
Ireland
AMBER Alert (Child Rescue Alert Ireland)
An Irish AMBER Alert allows police officers to seek the assistance of the public when investigating child abduction cases. It is an agreement between An Garda Síochána, the media and information broadcasters to alert the public to a child abduction in order to seek their help. Information relating to the Alert will be broadcast via several media, including but not limited to: Radio, Television, Internet and Electronic Road Signs. The primary goal of the AMBER Alert is the safe and early recovery of the child unharmed. Visit: www.garda.ie
Technical Tools available for dissemination:
If the above criteria are met, alert information is assembled for distribution to the public via:
- PULSE
- Garda Portal Intranet
- Email Dissemination
- National Road Signs
- ANPR
- CRI Alert App
- Social Media
This information may include descriptions and pictures of the missing child, the suspected abductor, and a suspected vehicle along with any other information available which may be valuable in identifying the child and suspect. Only An Garda Síochána can initiate and release AMBER Alerts for initial distribution. All media relations for an AMBER Alert will be managed by the Garda Press and Public Relations Office.
The criteria for launching an AMBER Alert in Ireland:
All four criteria must be met before an AMBER Alert can be considered:
- The child is under the age of eighteen (18) years
- There is reasonable belief that the child has been abducted
- There is a reasonable belief that there is an immediate and serious risk to the health or welfare of a child
- There is sufficient information available to enable the public to assist An Garda Síochána in locating the child
Abduction
In an AMBER Alert, the word abduction is used to describe the child’s disappearance. The abductor could be a parent or a stranger. The basic premise of the word is that the child is taken and there is a danger to the child’s health or welfare. Other words that could be used to describe the abduction are – kidnapped, endangered, taken without permission
Actors involved and their role in a national AMBER Alert:
An Garda Síochána – Management of the AMBER Alert system (www.garda.ie)
Missing Children
An overview of children who are currently listed as missing can be found on the Irish Police website.
A missing person is defined as: “Anyone whose whereabouts are unknown and the circumstances of the disappearance presents a risk of harm to the missing person or any other person”. When a child is missing, An Garda Síochána will act swiftly to help recover the child, by developing search teams and by utilizing all necessary investigative actions. CRI Alerts are reserved for those cases that specifically meet the CRI Alert criteria.
Italy
AMBER Alert (Child Abduction Alert System)
The Italian AMBER Alert System (ICAAS) was set up in 2011. An AMBER Alert in Italy allows police officers to seek the assistance of the public when investigating child abduction cases.
Criteria:
- The missing person is a minor;
- Danger to the physical integrity or life of the person;
- Forced removal;
- Availability of enough and reliable information that the dissemination of the alarm can contribute to the location of the victim or kidnapper.
Technical Tools available for dissemination:
The Italian AMBER Alert System has partnerships with Sky, Autogrill, ports and some other telecom and news organizations. There is the option to send a pre-formatted video that is edited for the relevant case and was developed for them by Rai, a broadcast organization.
Actors involved and their role in a national AMBER Alert:
The Department of Public Security is the central unit for the country and is responsible for policy and strategy. There is another unit that is able to support the local response to difficult cases.
The International Cooperation Service has a 24/7 operations room for responding to all international investigations. This also deals with AMBER Alerts and is set up to manage any alerts that are issued and receive the calls via a dedicated number.
Missing Children
An overview of children who are currently listed as missing in Italy can be found on http://www.chilhavisto.rai.it/dl/clv/ricerca/clv_ricerca.html?c=1&sort=data_Scomparsa.
Latvia
AMBER Alert
Latvia does not have an AMBER Alert system in place.
Missing Children
An overview of children who are currently listed as missing in Latvia can be found on the Latvian Police website.
Lithuania
AMBER Alert (AMBER Alert Lithuania)
On March 14th 2018, Lithuania launched its national AMBER Alert system to quickly recover missing children.
The Lithuanian AMBER Alert enables law enforcement agencies to send out a notification with a recent photo and information about a missing child to all Facebook app users within a 200 km radius of the place where the child went missing. This highly increases the chances of a missing child, whose life and health are at risk, to be found.
The criteria for launching an Amber Alert in Lithuania:
The decision to issue an Amber Alert is made by a local police officer in charge after authorisation of a competent prosecutor.
Conditions for issuing an Amber Alert:
- The victim is under 18 years;
- There was committed a kidnapping, bodily harm, murder, restriction of liberty of a child;
- There are other reasons the child‘s life or health is in danger;
- It hasn‘t been one month passed since the child went missing
The information about a missing child along with the circumstances of the disappearance is immediately forwarded to the Command and coordination Board of the Police department of the Republic of Lithuania. Responsible authority (24/7) Lithuanian Police department Command and coordination board.
Communication within the country is done via phone, e.mail, document management system and Facebook/Meta.
Common e-mail: trv@policija.lt
Luxembourg
AMBER Alert (AMBER Alert Luxembourg)
An AMBER Alert in Luxembourg allows police officers to seek the assistance of the public when investigating child abduction cases. With the use of the cross-border AMBER Alert, based on the Dutch AMBER Alert system, not only Luxembourgish, but also endangered missing children and AMBER Alerts in neighboring countries, such as France, Germany, and Belgium, are automatically displayed on the website of AMBER Alert Luxembourg. AMBER Alert Luxembourg is developed by AMBER Alert Europe. Visit: www.amberalert.lu
Technical Tools available for dissemination:
Social media, Radio and TV, RSS feed, website pop-up, AMBER Alert poster, SMS and email. Luxembourgish AMBER Alerts are also automatically displayed in the newsfeeds of all Facebook users in Luxembourg.
The criteria for launching an AMBER Alert in Luxembourg:
The grand-ducal Police, on behalf of the authorisation of the state prosecutor, is responsible for issuing AMBER Alerts, for which they have strict criteria:
- The child is (very likely) abducted by an unknown person or persons or the child is missing and its life is in imminent danger;
- The victim is a minor (under 18 years of age);
- There is enough information about the victim to increase the chances of the child being found by means of an AMBER Alert, such as a photo, information about the abductor or the vehicle used during the abduction;
- The AMBER Alert is issued as soon as possible after the abduction or disappearance of the child.
Actors involved and their role in a national AMBER Alert:
- The grand-ducal Police – investigation and decision to launch the alert
- State prosecutor
- AMBER Alert Luxembourg
Missing Children
An overview of children who are currently listed as missing in Luxembourg can be found on:
- www.amberalert.lu (also missing children in neighboring countries)
- www.police.public.lu
- www.116000.lu
Malta
AMBER Alert (AMBER Alert Malta)
AMBER Alert Malta was officially launched on January 10th, 2017, by the Minister of Home Affairs and National Security, Carmelo Abela, and the Malta Police Force. AMBER Alert Malta is the result of a cooperation between the Ministry of Home Affairs and National Security in Malta, the Malta Police Force and AMBER Alert Europe, the European Child Rescue Alert and Police Network on Missing Children.
An AMBER Alert in Malta allows police officers to seek the assistance of the public when investigating child abduction cases. With the use of the cross-border AMBER Alert, based on the Dutch AMBER Alert system, not only Maltese, but also endangered missing children and AMBER Alerts in neighboring countries, such as Spain, Greece and Hungary, are automatically displayed on the website of AMBER Alert Malta. AMBER Alert Malta is developed by AMBER Alert Europe. Visit: www.amberalert.com.mt.
Technical Tools available for dissemination:
Social media, Radio and TV, RSS feed, website pop-up, AMBER Alert poster, SMS and email. Maltese AMBER Alerts are also automatically displayed in the newsfeeds of all Facebook users in Malta.
The criteria for launching an AMBER Alert in Malta
The Malta Police Force is responsible for issuing AMBER Alerts, for which they have strict criteria:
- The child is (very likely) abducted by an unknown person or persons or the child is missing and its life is in imminent danger;
- The victim is a minor (under 18 years of age);
- There is enough information about the victim to increase the chances of the child being found by means of an AMBER Alert, such as a photo, information about the abductor or the vehicle used during the abduction;
- The AMBER Alert is issued as soon as possible after the abduction or disappearance of the child.
Malta has a partnership with Facebook, allowing them to display Maltese AMBER Alerts in the newsfeeds of all Facebook users in Malta.
Actors involved and their role in a national AMBER Alert:
- Malta Police Force – investigation and decision to launch the alert
- AMBER Alert Malta
Missing Children
An overview of children who are currently listed as missing in Malta can be found on the Maltese AMBER Alert website.
For endangered missing children, parts of the AMBER Alert system are used to attract citizens’ attention. Information about these cases can be shared nationally or can be sent to specific regions or target groups (e.g. railway personnel or the transport sector).
Poland
AMBER Alert (Child Alert Poland)
An AMBER Alert in Poland allows police officers to seek the assistance of the public when investigating child abduction cases. Visit: www.childalert.pl
Technical Tools available for dissemination:
TV, radio, email, social media, digital screens.
The criteria for launching an AMBER Alert in Poland:
- Missing minor is under 18
- Justified suspicion that the child’s life or health is directly threatened, or the disappearance circumstances may be linked to a crime of abduction
- Written permission of the parent or legal carer for publication of the communication
- Justified conviction that the AMBER Alert would be a real support in search
- Collected data is sufficient to prepare the communication
Actors involved and their role in a national AMBER Alert:
National Police HQ Center for Missing Persons’ Search and Identification – AMBER Alert Poland operator (zaginieni.policja.pl, childalert.pl)
Missing Children
An overview of children who are listed as missing in Poland can be found on:
- childalert.pl – missing children
- zaginieni.policja.pl – missing children and adults
- www.zaginieni.pl (ITAKA) – missing children and adults
The National Police HQ Center for Missing Persons’ Search and Identification is responsible for the investigation of endangered missing children cases. For more information about the Centre for Missing Persons (KGP), please click here.
Portugal
AMBER Alert
An AMBER Alert in Portugal allows police officers to seek the assistance of the public when investigating child abduction cases.
Technical Tools available for dissemination:
The project Alerta Rapto is based on a website in SharePoint where the PJ puts the information (video, audio and text) about the kidnap. The partners involved in this project have access to the website in order to download and publish the information
The criteria for launching an AMBER Alert in Portugal:
The criteria for launching an AMBER Alert in Portugal are stated in Article 1 of the Protocol. Verification of these points:
- In case of kidnap or abduction (not simple disappearance);
- Risk of life or health of the victim;
- Information available that may allow for the tracing of the victim or suspect and
- Victim is under 18.
- The combination of these factors does not imply the automatic activation of the alert when that may increase the risk for the victim or compromise the investigation
Actors involved and their role in a national AMBER Alert:
- Attorney General’s Office (Procuradoria Geral da República – PGR) – Decision to activate the alert
- Criminal Police (Policia Judiciaria – PJ) – Helps PGR in the decision process, operationalizes the systems and does the related criminal investigation
Missing Children
An overview of children who are listed as missing in Portugal can be found on:
Romania
AMBER Alert (Alerta Rapire Copil)
An AMBER Alert in Romania allows police officers to seek the assistance of the public when investigating child abduction cases.
Technical Tools available for dissemination:
TV radio, sms, billboards, information screens, email, banners on websites.
The criteria for launching an AMBER Alert in Romania:
- The missing person must be under 18
- The missing person has to be been kidnapped in the presence of a witnesses
- The life of the child is in imminent danger, or there is fear he/ she will be seriously injured
- There is sufficient information available to enable the public to assist the police in locating the child
Missing Children
An overview of children who are currently listed as missing in Romania can be found on: www.politiaromana.ro.
Serbia
AMBER Alert
Serbia launched its AMBER Alert in 2023: https://amberalert.rs/
Slovakia
AMBER Alert (AMBER Alert Slovensko)
An AMBER Alert in Slovakia allows police officers to seek the assistance of the public when investigating child abduction cases. With the use of the cross-border AMBER Alert, based on the Dutch AMBER Alert system, not only Slovak, but also endangered missing children and AMBER Alerts in neighboring countries, such as the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria and Hungary, are automatically displayed on the website of AMBER Alert Slovakia. AMBER Alert Slovakia is developed by AMBER Alert Europe. Visit: www.amberalert.sk
Technical Tools available for dissemination:
Social media, Radio and TV, RSS feed, website pop-up, AMBER Alert poster, SMS and email.
The criteria for launching an AMBER Alert in Slovakia:
- The child is below 18 years of age
- There is reason to suspect that this is a kidnapping under Section 209 of the Criminal Code (it does not apply to Section 210 of the Criminal Code for so-called “parental abductions”);
Or it is reasonable to suspect that a child has been the victim of a crime while being at risk of life and health. - The police have enough information about the case (eg a child/kidnapper description, a photo, special characters, etc.), the spread of which will increase the chances of finding a child, and the disclosure of this information is not expected to increase the risk that the child is facing;
Actors involved and their role in a national AMBER Alert:
- Slovak National Police force – investigation and decision to launch the alert
- UNICEF Slovakia – dissemination of the alert via their network
- AMBER Alert Europe – technical support (if needed)
Missing Children
An overview of children who are currently listed as missing in Slovakia can be found on:
- www.amberalert.sk (also missing children in neighboring countries)
Slovenia
AMBER Alert
Criteria for the issuing of an Alert for a missing child – the Rapid Response
The following criteria must be met cumulatively in order to activate a rapid response:
- The person is a child up to the age of 18 years and there is a serious threat that the child‘s life is directly threatened or the child is at risk of serious harm/injury, or if there are grounds to suspect that the disappearance is the result of a criminal offence.
- That there is information available which enables the public to assist the police in finding the missing child (concrete description of the offender, concrete description of the missing, concrete description of another object related to the missing; e.g. registration plate or description of the car and/or similar).
It should always be taken into consideration that there is a variety of emergency measures that can help to find the missing child as soon as possible and that it is always necessary also to implement these other measures. A rapid response to the missing via Meta and Instagram should only be activated for the most serious, threatening and life-threatening cases that are solvable.
When taking a decision on the publication of the „missing“, in addition to known operational findings on the case of missing child and in compliance with the principle of proportionality as well as the benefit of the missing child, the following risks should be evaluated:
- Whether informing the public creates any additional risk to the missing child,
- Whether there is sufficient information to enable the public to identify the missing child and/or the accompanying person,
- Whether the media already cover the story of this missing child and what the effect of this notice would be to the public, in accordance with the principle of proportionality.
The risk assessment should be continuously verified throughout the investigation into the missing child, as this may change according to the information obtained.
In Slovenia, these criteria coincide with the Criminal Procedure Act – Article 549:
“Police are also allowed to publish photos of bodies and missing persons if there are grounds to suspect that the death or disappearance is the result of a crime.”
Spain
AMBER Alert
An AMBER Alert in Spain allows police officers to seek the assistance of the public when investigating child abduction cases. Visit: http://www.cndes.es
Technical Tools available for dissemination:
The alert message is distributed by the National Missing Persons Center, dependent on the Ministry of the Interior, to the media, organizations, public and private entities who have signed an official cooperation agreement. For example: radio, TV, press (print and online), highway signs, large screens on airports, bus, railway and metro stations.
The criteria for launching an AMBER Alert in Spain:
- The child is under 18 years
- There are reasonable indications that the disappearance has been forced
- The police investigators believe the missing child is in imminent danger and assume that activation of the alert system serves the needs of the investigation and it will not constitute an added detriment to the child
- There is sufficient information about the missing child available which will contribute to a positive result on the cooperation of the public
- Permission of the parent or legal carer for publication of the communication
Actors involved and their role in a national AMBER Alert:
- Judicial Police Unit – Investigation of the child’s disappearance (local level)
- Judicial Police Central Unit – Investigation of the child’s disappearance (national level), keeps CEPIC informed
- Directorate General for Coordination and Studies of the Ministry of the Interior – Decision to launch the alert / responsible for the alert, after being considered the needed of the alert by the police investigators
- Information and Coordination Center (CEPIC) (Directorate General for Coordination and Studies) – Operates the alert system:
- Draws up the format of the alert in cooperation with the Communications Department of Directorate General for Coordination and Studies of the Ministry of the Interior
- Maintains and updates the information of the alert
- Develops an annual report on the results and improvements of the system
- National Missing Persons Center (CNDES), responsible of publishing and updating the alert in the CNDES website.
Missing Children
An overview of children who are currently listed as missing in Spain can be found on: https://cndes-web.ses.mir.es/publico/Desaparecidos/en/
Sweden
AMBER Alert
Sweden does not have an AMBER Alert system in place.
Missing Children
An overview of children who are currently listed as missing in Sweden can be found on: https://www.facebook.com/MPSweden.
The NGO Missing People Sweden assists the police in organising citizen searches for missing people (children and adults).
Switzerland
AMBER Alert (Alerte Enlèvement)
Since January 1st 2010 the Swiss police has a rapid and comprehensive alarm system, which will be used in case of a reasonable suspicion or certainty, that a underaged person has been kidnapped and threat to life or physical condition.
Implementation: the alarm system has been implemented by the Conference of Cantonal Justice and Police Directors (CCJPD) in collaboration with the Federal Justice and Police (FDJP). It is based on the French “Alerte enlèvement” and enables an immediate, comprehensive and systematic dissemination of information in case a child has been kidnapped. This decision was made in recognition of the fact that the rescue of the victim in case of kidnapping within the first crucial hours is absolute important for a successful criminal investigation and the rescue of the victim. The alarmwill be activated as soon as there is sufficient information and it must be feared that the kidnapped underaged person is endangered. Visit: www.alerteenlevement.ch
Technical Tools available for dissemination:
- Various Police systems (for dissemination among law enforcement)
- Text message to registered users (in cooperation with mobile phone providers)
- Swiss Radio and Television (SRF) via their news ticker, breaking news
- Swiss Press Agency (SDA – ATS), Keystone, via their means of dissemination
- Airports (Zurich, Basel, Geneva, Berne, Lugano), speaker announcements, monitors
- Swiss Railways, via their means of dissemination in trains and railway stations
- Federal Roads Office, variable-message signs
- Advertisement provider (e.g. on-screen-ads in public transport)
The criteria for launching an AMBER Alert in Switzerland:
- It has been concretely determined that a child has been abducted, or there exists reasonable suspicion that a child has been abducted;
- The life of the child is in imminent danger, or there is fear he/ she will be seriously injured;
- There is sufficient information available to enable the public to assist the police in locating the child
Location: the AMBER Alert will always be triggered throughout Switzerland. For particular reasons (as part of the technical possibilities) the relevant cantonal prosecuting authorities can restrict the alarm locally.
Duration: the alarm signal is spread over three (3) hours. In case the signal at this time doesn’t lead to locate victim and/or delinquent, dismissal of the alarm is automatically set. At this point the regular promotion by appropriate law enforcement authorities takes place. In case new findings arise that require a continuation of the alarm, the alarm can be extended case-related with a maximum of 2 hours.
Missing Children
An overview of children who are currently listed as missing in Switzerland can be found on:
http://www.alerteenlevement.ch/Pages/Kidnapping.aspx?LANGUAGEID=EN
The Netherlands
AMBER Alert
In the Netherlands, an AMBER Alert is used by the Dutch National Police to seek the assistance of the public in life-threatening missing children cases. Information about the missing child is rapidly shared with the public via a wide-variety of channels: TV, radio, social media, app, billboards, advertisement screens, etc. From 2008 until 2021, AMBER Alert Netherlands was operated by AMBER Alert Europe on behalf of the Dutch National Police.
On 23 November 2021, AMBER Alert Netherlands was fully transferred to the Dutch National Police. AMBER Alerts are now exclusively issued by the Dutch National Police in cooperation with Burgernet. Visit: www.burgernet.nl
The criteria for launching an AMBER Alert in the Netherlands:
- The child is below 18 years of age
- Immediate life-danger or risk of serious harm to the child
- Sufficient information of the victim, including a picture
- Indication that the child is in the Netherlands
United Kingdom
AMBER Alert (Child Rescue Alert)
An AMBER Alert in the United Kingdom allows police officers to seek the assistance of the public when investigating child abduction cases. Visit: www.childrescuealert.org.uk
Technical Tools available for dissemination:
Automated dissemination via social, digital and internet media plus SMS, which can be local, regional or national
The criteria for launching an AMBER Alert in the United Kingdom:
- The child is apparently under 18 years old;
- There is a perception that the child is in imminent danger of serious harm or death;
- There is sufficient information available to enable the public to assist police in locating the child.
Actors involved and their role in a national AMBER Alert:
- CEOP National Crime Agency UK – Lead agency (ceop.police.uk)
- Missing People – Support agency (www.missingpeople.org.uk)
- Groupcall – Provides the technology behind the AMBER Alerts (www.groupcall.com)
Missing Children
An overview of children who are currently listed as missing in the UK can be found on: www.missingpeople.org.uk.