Yesterday marked AMBER Alert Awareness Day, with the Ontario Provincial Police reminding the public that AMBER Alerts rely on quick action to help locate children believed to be in immediate danger.
The AMBER Alert system was created in 1996 following the tragic abduction and murder of nine-year-old Amber Hagerman in Arlington, Texas. Her death inspired the development of an emergency alert system to rapidly share information with the public about child abductions. AMBER stands for America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response, and has since become a global model for emergency child protection alerts.
Ontario adopted the AMBER Alert system in 2003, working with provincial law enforcement and local media, including radio and television stations. Key partners include the Ministry of the Solicitor General and the Ministry of Transportation.
An AMBER Alert is issued only when police believe a child under 18 has been abducted and faces imminent risk of serious harm or death. Alerts are broadcast through television, radio, and compatible wireless devices using Canada’s Alert Ready system, providing descriptions of the child and, when available, the suspect or involved vehicle.
Police stress that alerts are only issued under strict criteria, and timing is critical. Anyone who sees or hears an alert is asked to watch for the child, suspect, or vehicle described, and report information immediately by calling 911. Misusing 911 to complain about an alert is considered public mischief and can result in charges.
More information about AMBER Alerts and how the public can help is available at opp.ca/AMBERAlert.
