Convince the UK to support an European-wide missing child recovery system. (Sharon Bowles MEP)

Sharon Bowles MEP <info@sharonbowles.org.uk>

Convince the UK to support an European-wide missing child recovery system.

To: Rt. Hon. Jack Straw MP,

Secretary of State for Justice,

Ministry of Justice,

Selborne House,

54 Victoria Street,

London SW1E 6QW

United Kingdom

We, the undersigned, call upon the Justice Secretary to use his influence on the EU's Justice and Home Affairs Council to support the creation of a European-wide Missing Child Alert system, which is supported by the European Parliament and the European Commission.

The Missing Child Alert system is set up along the lines of the 'Amber Alert' in the United States, which has already been successful in helping to recover many missing children. The system will galvanise a European-wide response when a child goes missing. It would be a partnership between law enforcement agencies and the media, posting immediate bulletins, operating with messages on TV, radio and motorways signs. There would also be a missing child hotline and a European child response and policy unit.

The awful disappearance of Madeleine McCann over a year ago has highlighted the urgent need for closer cooperation between EU countries when it comes to recovering missing children. Other European countries, such as France and Belgium, already have in place a similar scheme and it is about time all EU countries adopt such a system.

The European Commission and the European Parliament have already backed this proposal. Only the European Council, on which the UK sits, stands in the way. I ask you to please use your influence on the Council to see that this vital measure is passed.

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