More than 60 British university students joined Australia’s Murdoch University and police agencies from 14 countries to work on six cold cases involving missing children and child homicides. The four-month effort was part of the third International Cold Case Analysis Project (ICCAP). The students’ findings led detectives to further investigate one of the cases; and last year, the project prompted investigators to exhume the body of “Gentleman John Doe” – helping identify an unknown man buried 30 years ago.
Golden Casket, part of Australia’s official lottery, donated AU$300,000 to an organization dedicated to help victims of crime and missing persons. The Daniel Marcombe Foundation helps victims but also offers child safety programs and events. The lottery also sends AMBER Alerts to more than 900 retail outlets in Queensland.
The Brisbane, Australia, City Council started a partnership with the Outdoor Media Association (OMA) to begin posting AMBER Alerts on outdoor signs. The digital signs will post the abducted child’s photo and other information within 30 minutes after an AMBER Alert is issued. “We hope the Brisbane Amber Alerts pilot program will inform how we can build a system to roll out Amber Alerts across Australia,” said Charmaine Moldrich, OMA CEO. The OMA is working with the Out of Home Advertising Association of America and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in the United States on the pilot program.
Golden Casket, the company overseeing some of Australia’s lotteries, has pledged $300,000 to an organization working to keep children safe. The Daniel Morcombe Foundation supports the country’s AMBER Alert programs, provides assistance to crime victims and supports families of missing persons.
The foundation was created in 2005 by Bruce and Denise Morcombe after their 13-year-old son Daniel was abducted in 2003. Golden Casket also broadcasts information about missing and abducted children at 900 outlets in Queensland. The latest donation is funded by unclaimed lottery money.
An Australian scholar is urging the government to create a public notification system similar to Silver Alerts used in the U.S. to help find lost people with dementia. Dr. Margie MacAndrew conducted a study about missing persons with dementia. “Wandering can result in potentially life-threatening outcomes such as malnutrition, increased risk of falls, injury, exhaustion, hypothermia, becoming lost, and death,” she said. “Rapid reporting within one hour of knowing a person is missing is also known to help search and rescue have a better chance of finding a person alive and well.”
Child Abduction Alert Launched in Australia — The Queensland (Australia) Police started the Child Abduction Alert system to notify the public about suspected child abductions. The program began December 29, 2010, and initially involved only radio stations, but will be expanded to include television, taxi companies, buses, lotto agents, and transportation. The alert uses the same criteria as the U.S. AMBER Alert plan.
Malaysia Begins Alert System for Missing Children — The abduction and murder of an 8-year-old girl four years ago prompted Malaysia to create the NUR (Nationwide Urgent Response) Alert for missing children. The plan began in January 2011 and is patterned after the U.S. AMBER Alert system. The alerts will be distributed to broadcasters, government agencies, banks, hotels, and transportation agencies within 24 hours after a child younger than 12 years old has been reported missing.
Saipan to Start AMBER Alert Program — The western Pacific island of Saipan will soon have an AMBER Alert program. Saipan is the largest of 15 islands that are part of the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Gov. Benigno R. Fital announced the plan on May 31, 2011, six days after two sisters, ages 9 and 10, were reported missing.
Belgium Starts Child Alert Plan — Belgium launched the Child Alert system in February for children who have disappeared and are in a life-threatening situation. The alerts will go to road signs, radio and television stations, mobile telephone providers, Internet service providers, electronic billboards, and company networks. The alerts will remain active for six hours but can be renewed to be active for as long as 24 hours. Belgium became the focus of international attention after a 3-year-old British girl went missing in 2007. The parents of Madeleine McCann immediately called for Belgium and all European countries to start a system similar to the U.S. AMBER Alert program.
For the first time, Australia hosted the Global Missing Children's Conference. The conference in Sydney focused on global issues facing countries when dealing with missing persons cases. The conference also focused on the growing number of parental child abduction cases and the emotional and physical implications on a child who is taken by someone they trust.