In July, August and September AMBER Alert Europe mapped 752 missing children. For 11 children an AMBER Alert was issued because law enforcement suspected these children were in immediate danger.
AMBER Alerts were issued in the Czech Republic (8), France (2) and the Netherlands (1). 6 of the 11 AMBER Alert children were abducted, of which 5 of them were taken by family members. The mother of a French AMBER Alert child who was kidnapped by his father says: “I am relieved my son has been found. I wish I never have to relive this day.”
Luckily, 10 AMBER Alert children were quickly recovered, within 24 hours. A 2.5 year old girl, for whom a Dutch AMBER Alert was issued, is still missing. Police suspect the child has been taken abroad. Her mother determined to find her daughter: “I will continue. She needs me. And I need her. I have to continue, she counts on me.”
752 missing children
In the third quarter of 2016 AMBER Alert Europe mapped 752 missing children as reported by law enforcement and police mandated organisations from 22 European Union Member States and Switzerland[1]. Facts and figures:
- 506 children recovered within one month
- Average age of the missing children: 15 years old
- The majority of missing children were girls: 380 girls vs. 372 boys
- 89% of the missing children mapped by AMBER Alert had a photo available
[1] AMBER Alert Europe maps information on missing children which was made publicly available by official sources from law enforcement or other police mandated organisations from 21 European member states and Switzerland. Please see here for an overview of websites mapped by AMBER Alert Europe. The number of children reported as missing will be considerable higher than those who are given publicity. This is because the vast majority of missing children are found quickly, not every case is suitable for publicity and of those that are publicised, not all are put on a website (often because other means of publicity are more appropriate).
