A new study finds the AMBER Alert program is working in Europe but still needs improvement in some countries. Researchers Karen Shalev Greene and Charlie Hedges interviewed representatives of the AMBER Alert programs in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, and Poland.
Of the 28 European Union (EU) member states, the study found 16 European countries have child alert systems; however, only eight countries have used the system at least once. The participating countries in the study are among the most active users of child alert systems, issuing 19 of the 23 EU alerts in 2015 (83%).
The study also found the following:
- Public pressure caused the offenders to surrender to authorities.
- The child was identified by a member of the public.
- The alert and coordination that followed led to a police force in a different country finding and safely recovering the child.
- Members of the public volunteered to search for the child, which assisted in police efforts.
- The integrated rescue system proved very useful.