EU-WIDE CHILD ALERT SYSTEM NEEDED SAYS MEP

9.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 10th Apr 2008

Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne has called for a public warning system for when children are suspected of being abducted, saying such a system might have helped in recent high profile cases. Such a system already exists in the US, where it has helped recover almost 400 children during the last five years.

Speaking today, Liz Lynne, who is Vice President of the European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee, said:

"There is no doubt that a British equivalent of the US 'Amber Alert' system would save children's lives if it were to be introduced. The speed in which a single dedicated control centre could get the message out to different branches of the Police, TV and radio and roadside electronic billboards would help rescue many children within the crucial first 72 hours.

"It would also be important to have this link into a Europe-wide system, including those already up and running in Belgium and France. Increased cross-border cooperation and a single dedicated European phone number could bridge the vital gap sometimes needed. Who knows what a difference this might have made in the case of Madeleine McCann if this had already been in place? We must act on this as soon as possible."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Liz Lynne MEP had a private meeting today with Gerry and Kate McCann, parents of Madeleine (abducted in Portugal on 3 May 2007) in the European Parliament in Brussels to discuss the need for an EU public warning system.