AMBER Alert Europe:
A Decade of Impact
300,000 children are reported missing each year across Europe, with 100,000 of these cases within the EU. At AMBER Alert Europe, we are committed to the mission of #zeromissingkids across the continent. Established in 2013, we have grown into a robust network that brings together experts from 44 governmental and non-governmental organisations across 28 countries, all united in our dedication to preventing missing children cases and expediting the safe recovery of missing children.
PREVENTION AND AWARENESS-RAISING
Through our prevention campaigns like “The Rumbling Adventure of Hare” and “Think Before You Share”, we’ve reached millions of children, young people, parents and caregivers in 23 countries and in 20 languages, promoting safe practices and raising awareness on the issue of going missing.
Advocacy
Prüm II: We’ve actively advocated for the inclusion of missing persons in the Prüm II automated data exchange framework, which significantly enhances the capabilities of law enforcement agencies across the EU. By integrating missing persons cases into this system, we enable faster and more efficient sharing of critical information among police forces in different countries. This improvement not only helps in locating missing individuals more quickly but also ensures a coordinated and comprehensive approach to such cases.
SIS Recast: We’ve introduced the idea of preventive SIS alerts. These alerts are meant to notify authorities if a child at risk of going missing is about to cross international borders, allowing them to take action before the child is taken out of the country. This proactive measure uses the Schengen Information System (SIS), which is a vital tool for sharing information among European countries. By doing so, we aim to ensure the safety of vulnerable children through timely intervention and cross-border cooperation.
AI Act: We’ve strongly championed the inclusion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in the search for missing children within the framework of the AI Act. Our efforts have focused on demonstrating the potential of AI to enhance search capabilities and speed up the process of locating missing children while protecting their fundamental rights.
Council Conclusions: We’ve contributed to the Council Conclusions on Stepping up Cross-border Police Cooperation in the Area of Missing Persons as part of a combined effort with the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Slovenian Police, and PEN-MP. These Council Conclusions serve as the foundation for improved cooperation in the area of missing persons and missing children in Europe.
Police Expert Network on Missing Persons
We’ve initiated and continue to support the Police Expert Network on Missing Persons (PEN-MP), the official European missing persons police network, engaging over 80 law enforcement experts from 34 countries. PEN-MP provides specialist support, advice, and training to law enforcement authorities, thereby improving their effectiveness in handling missing persons cases across Europe.
Law Enforcement Training
In collaboration with CEPOL, the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training, we’ve developed and conducted specialized training sessions to enhance the skills of law enforcement professionals in handling missing persons cases. These sessions, which have been attended by 1,500 law enforcement professionals, are designed to equip officers with the latest techniques and best practices for effectively managing and resolving missing persons cases.
AMBER Alert Systems
AMBER Alert systems, national missing child alert systems, have been established or improved in numerous European countries including Malta, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, Poland, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland and the Slovak Republic, under our guidance and training initiatives.
International Cold Case Analysis Project
Our International Cold Case Analysis Project (ICCAP) has reviewed 52 cold cases, involving over 1000 students from various academic backgrounds across Europe. This initiative not only aids in solving cases but also enhances educational opportunities in forensic sciences.