Alertă Răpire Copil () is the
child abduction alert system
A child abduction alert system (also Child Alert, Amber alert or Child Rescue Alert) is a tool used to alert the public in cases of worrying or life-threatening disappearances of children.
Europe
Currently, there are Child Alert systems in 21 ...
used by the
Romanian Ministry of Administration and Interior and
Romanian Police
The Romanian Police (, , ) is the national police force and main civil law enforcement agency in Romania. It is subordinated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and it is led by a General Inspector with the rank of Secretary of State.
Duties
T ...
. The system was launched on April 18, 2011.
History
Before Alertă Rapire Copil was implemented, there was no official public awareness system for such cases. The only means people could find out about a
child abduction
Child abduction or child theft is the unauthorized removal of a Minor (law), minor (a child under the age of Age of majority, legal adulthood) from the Child custody, custody of the child's Parent, natural parents or Legal guardian, legally appoi ...
was through the website of the local police, or very limited public announcement devices.
In the late year of 2007, Romania was the first country in the North-Eastern
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...
to join the
Call Child Alert Project, an initiative funded and supported by the
European Commission
The European Commission (EC) is the primary Executive (government), executive arm of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with a number of European Commissioner, members of the Commission (directorial system, informall ...
. As a result of the partnership, Romania received funding and the project has begun.
In 2010, the infrastructure has been established and the system was ready to be launched.
In April 2011, Alertă Rapire Copil has been launched to the public.
Activity and accomplishment methods
The aim of the mechanism is to find the child, and save their life. It should be done by spreading the alert through as many ways as possible, to as many people and places as possible; collecting as much relevant information from the citizens as possible; quick response of the law enforcement bodies.
The fast spread of the information can be achieved through all forms of written or verbal communications available, including
variable message signs
A variable- (also changeable-, electronic-, or dynamic-) message sign or message board, often abbreviated VMS, VMB, CMS, or DMS, and in the UK known as a matrix sign,
is an electronic traffic sign often used on roadways to give travelers info ...
.
The standard audio message that is broadcast along with a visual aid (where possible) is
The visual message may vary, and it may include a photo, age, last known location and other relevant details.
Launching an alert
The entity that is authorized to place an alert is the Police Department that has received (and briefly investigated) the formal complaint. The system can be started, only if all of these circumstances exist:
* The child/teenager is presumed to be under the age of 18
* The child is in either of these situations: has been abducted with
witnesses
In law, a witness is someone who, either voluntarily or under compulsion, provides testimonial evidence, either oral or written, of what they know or claim to know.
A witness might be compelled to provide testimony in court, before a grand jur ...
or as a result of the inquiry, it has been concluded that the circumstances are putting his life, health or physical integrity at risk
* The known information is likely to lead to the missing child
The alert can be banned if the leak of information is threatening the child's life.
See also
*
Amber alert
*
Police of Romania
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alerta Rapire Copil
Child safety
Emergency communication
Romanian Police