AMBER Alert system increases the chance missing or abducted children are found

AMBER Alert Netherlands is a cross media alert platform used by the Dutch police for urgent missing children and child abductions (children whose life or health is assumed to be endangered). With this joint initiative of software company Netpresenter and the Netherlands Police Agency (Klpd), the whole of the Netherlands can be immediately alerted when a child goes missing or is abducted, by means of pop-ups on PCs, large advertising (Digital Signage) screens, highway signs, e-mail, SMS text messages, Instant messenger, RSS newsfeeds, website Alerts (Flash) and social media. The goal of the new system is to make use of the general public’s eyes and ears in urgent missing children cases, to help trace the child more quickly. AMBER Alert www.amberalertnederland.nl gives the Dutch police the tools to instantly alert the whole of the Netherlands in case of an urgent abduction or disappearance of a child. The broad range of media involved makes it easy for any Dutch citizen, organization or company to help find missing children.

AMBER Alerts will only be issued for urgent missing children cases. The Netherlands Police Agency (Klpd) decide whether an AMBER Alert will be issued by assessing whether a case meets the AMBER Alert criteria. These criteria include that the child has to be under 18 years old, and that there has to be direct endangerment to the child’s life or a fear for grave bodily or mental injury. Expectations are that an AMBER Alert will be issued in the Netherlands between five and ten times a year. The police is fully responsible for the content of all AMBER Alerts.

Dutch citizens, organizations, companies are asked to download the AMBER Alert software from the AMBER Alert website www.amberalertnederland.nl. The software allows for a pop-up to appear on the PC or Digital Signage screen demanding attention for an urgent missing children’s case. The pop-up disappears again after a few minutes. By showing electronic posters with information on missing children on PC or plasma screens, everyone can help increase these messages’ reach. This is a matter of life and death as the more people see these missing posters, the higher the chances a child is found (in time). It is also possible to subscribe to AMBER Alert emails, text messages and IM messages or allow for a Flash message to appear on your internal or external website.

AMBER Alert Netherlands is modeled after the American AMBER Alert Plan that has saved the lives of many children. Alerts will not include advertising and the users’ privacy is safeguarded. The AMBER Alert Netherlands software was developed by Netpresenter in cooperation with the Dutch police. Communication specialist Netpresenter has provided the platform to the Klpd (Netherlands Police Agency) free of charge.