Germany’s Missing Persons Crisis Sparks Urgent Call for Amber Alert System
In the wake of the tragic case of nine-year-old Valeriia, who was found dead after being missing for a week, missing persons expert Lars Bruhn is calling for the urgent implementation of an Amber Alert system in Germany. Despite the deployment of hundreds of police officers, sniffer dogs, divers, and drones, the current efforts are criticized for being inadequate. Bruhn, chairman of the 'Initiative for Missing Children', asserts that Germany lags behind other European countries in efficiently searching for missing children.
The initiative from Hamburg has advocated for years to introduce the Amber Alert system, a strategy successfully used in the USA since 1996 for the quick dissemination of information about missing children. An Amber Alert in Germany, according to the 'Missing Children Initiative', could potentially inform up to six million people within three hours, making a significant impact on the search efforts. A system like this could have been pivotal in cases like that of Valeriia or six-year-old Arian from Bremervörde.
Need for Specialized Units and Enhanced Cell Broadcasts
Bruhn criticizes the current procedural delays and lack of specialized units within the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). Missing persons cases are initially handled at the state level and only reported to the BKA the following day. Bruhn emphasizes the need for dedicated police experts who are available around the clock, including weekends. Current practices of distributing missing persons reports are described as inefficient and often not adequately targeted locally.
Beyond Amber Alerts, Bruhn suggests expanding existing cell broadcast systems to include alerts for missing persons. This service already issues warnings for natural disasters, but could easily be adapted to help locate missing children. Countries like Luxembourg and Belgium are already using such systems effectively.
The tragic case of Valeriia and the continued absence of a perpetrator underscores the need for systematic changes to improve the success rate and timeliness of missing person searches in Germany.
- In France, President Emmanuel Macron has initiated a policy to limit children’s access to cell phones and social media in response to growing concerns over their health and development. According to a report handed to the French government, children under 11 will be prohibited from using cell phones, while access to social networks will be restricted until they are 15. This measure aims to counter the negative impacts of early exposure to technology, including obesity, violence, and social isolation.
- The commission of experts led by neurologist Servane Mouton and addiction psychiatrist Amine Benyamina emphasized the need to regain control over children’s screen time, advocating for substantial changes to how digital content is consumed by youngsters. They warned against the strategies employed by digital companies to captivate children's attention and monetize their screen time. Recommendations included increasing parental controls, creating 'zero connection' zones, and promoting physically engaging alternatives like sports.
- This initiative underlines the broader global concern regarding children's digital consumption and the efforts by various governments to protect the younger population from the potentially harmful effects of hyperconnectivity.
