Child Rescue Alert

At present no children meet the criteria stated

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The scheme is intended to be used within a tightly defined set of criteria in relation to the abduction of a child and these criteria must be consistently adhered to. Diverging from them will cause confusion and devalue the scheme.

When information is received by the Police that indicates a child has been abducted the following procedures must be followed:

• Does the information fit the criteria for use,
• Authorisation sought to implement an alert,
• Alert text written,
• Media informed in accordance with written protocols,
• Call handling procedures implemented for receipt of calls,
• Assessment of calls received,
• Response to calls,
• Update of Alert,
• Cancellation of Alert.

Criteria for issuing an Alert

1. The child must be under the age of 18 years
2. There is reasonable belief that the child has been kidnapped or abducted
3. There is a reasonable belief that the child is in imminent danger of serious harm or death
4. There is sufficient information available to enable the public to assist the Police in locating the child

The Alert will normally be in force for a maximum of four hours but it could be extended if the authoriser to the alert considers it essential to the enquiry.

Alerts must be cancelled at the conclusion of their use, as failure to do so may create difficulties with the media and the public.