Le 6 November 2020

Dealing with an Abduction Alert

The Kidnapping Alert system was implemented in February 2006 based on the American system Amber Alert, created in 1996 following the kidnapping of a 9-year-old girl. It currently has 60 partners (including, among others, TF1, NRJ, Facebook, Orange and SNCF). For each alert, the toll-free number receives, on average, 700 calls.

Summary:

What is the purpose of the kidnapping alert?

It enables rapid dissemination, throughout the national territory, of precise information relating to the kidnapping of a minor child in order to receive testimonies that could help find the child.

Its activation is decided by the competent Public Prosecutor after deliberation with the General Prosecutor and the Ministry of Justice.

The rate of children found thanks to this system since 2006 is 95.8 %, meaning 28 children found alive out of 24 kidnappings (involving one or more children at a time).

Four trigger criteria

The life or physical integrity of the victim must be threatened
It must be a confirmed kidnapping
The victim must be a minor;
Information elements must allow locating the child or the suspect.

The prosecutor informs the victim's parents, and their agreement is necessary to trigger the alert.

The alert may not be triggered if it risks creating additional danger for the child or compromise the ongoing investigation.

What does the message contain?

The alert message contains precise information that enables the location of the victim or the person suspected of the kidnapping.

It must be broadcast as early as possible, the first 24 hours being crucial for the survival of the kidnapped minor(s), and can be modified at any time, based on updated information received following its broadcast.

When the alert is launched, the message is broadcast on thehighway signs, radios and television channels, but also on social networks in order to reach the greatest number and to be shared massively. Since the creation of the system in 2006, 24 alerts have been triggered. In total, 28 children were involved. Social networks are becoming an relay essential of the alert for investigators. Facebook commits with Kidnapping alert to remove fake pages, photos and names children when the alert is lifted, which allows for absolute control of the system.

Recognizing Fake News

To know if the alert is real, you just need to verify that it has been published on the official accounts (Facebook, Twitter) and website of Kidnapping Alert. Otherwise it's very likely a fake.

To recognize an authentic alert, you must check if:

The Ministry of Justice logo is placed above the alert
The alerts include a phone number and an email address to contact the authorities
If the spelling seems questionable, there's a good chance it's a hoax
Turn on your television or radio, the alert is repeated every 15 minutes

If you see the victim or the kidnapper, you must not intervene alone and contact the toll-free number provided in the alert message. The kidnapper may possess a weapon and could use it against the victim if they spot you or even against you. Stay discreet when making your call. During a kidnapping alert, the most important information is that received during the first 24 hours.

If your child disappears, contact the school or the daycare to find out if he hasn't been held. If you are divorced, contact the other parent, it's possible that he took initiative without informing you.

Useful link: http://www.alerte-enlevement.gouv.fr/

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