AMBER Alert Europe works together with Spanish police to further improve national AMBER Alert system  

On April 25th, Spain is officially introduced as AMBER Alert Europe’s latest member. State Secretary for Security of the Spanish Ministry of the interior José Antonio Nieto, National Missing Persons Centre (CNDES) and AMBER Alert Europe signed the partnership agreement at the State Secretary’s office in Madrid. Goal of the partnership is to further improve Spain’s national AMBER Alert system, the Alerta-Menor Desaparecido.

In Spain, an estimated 20,000 children are reported missing every year. In hopes to bring that number down, the National Missing Persons Centre of the Spanish Police joins forces with AMBER Alert Europe to enhance their Alerta-Menor Desaparecido. Previously, Malta, Luxembourg and Slovakia implemented a national AMBER Alert system in cooperation with AMBER Alert Europe.

“We are honoured to have Spain on board in our mission towards zero missing children”, says Frank Hoen, founder of AMBER Alert Europe. Having strong AMBER Alert systems across Europe significantly contributes to this goal.”

Strengthening Police Expert Network

In addition to becoming a member of AMBER Alert Europe, Spanish law enforcement experts have also joined AMBER Alert Europe’s Police Expert Network on Missing Children.

“The National Missing Persons Centre of the Spanish police brings a ton of expertise to the table, which can greatly benefit the search for missing children in Europe”, according to Hoen.

Alerta-Menor Desaparecido

A Spanish AMBER Alert is issued for missing children whose life is in imminent danger or whose physical integrity is threatened.  The Police is responsible for issuing an Alerta-Menor Desaparecido, which is done between 3 and 24 hours after a child was reported missing.

An Alerta-Menor Desaprecido includes information about and a picture of the missing child. Within minutes the alert is shared with the public via text message, email and on large screens throughout Spain, for example in metro stations in Madrid.