Expanded AMBER Alert helps to keep kids safe
By Contributor
British Columbia’s AMBER Alert system is getting a major boost.
Premier Christy Clark and Justice Minister and Attorney General Shirley Bond today announced a new government-wide initiative that will see 30,000 civil servants receive AMBER Alerts on their work computers and mobile devices on a 24-hour basis.
“There is nothing to compare with the terror a parent feels when their child goes missing,” said Premier Clark.
“The AMBER Alert expansion will mean 30,000 extra sets of eyes all over B.C. looking for a child – helping them get back to their families faster, and making this tool more effective so that police can do their job.
“This is part of our government’s commitment to supporting strong families and safe communities.”
The expansion will get information out faster and more widely, helping police to bring children back to their families as quickly as safely as possible.
AMBER Alerts will also be spread via the provincial government’s social media sites, including the Emergency Info BC site and Twitter feed: @EmergencyInfoBC
While all provinces have AMBER Alert, this step will place B.C. among leading jurisdictions in Canada. In making the announcement, Premier Clark challenged private sector organizations and Crown corporations to join the Province in a united effort.
The first three Crown corporations to have committed to implementing AMBER Alerts in their own systems are BC Hydro, ICBC and BC Transit.
Eventually all Crown corporations will be phased into the program.
From the private sector, London Drugs and Teck have agreed to take up government’s challenge. The first phase of the program expansion will be completed by May 25, International Missing Children’s Day.
