On December 2, 2002, Alberta introduced the first province-wide AMBER Alert program in Canada.

AMBER Alert is a voluntary, cooperative program between law-enforcement agencies and local broadcasters to send an emergency warning to the public when a child has been abducted and it is believed that the child's life is in grave danger. AMBER Alerts are broadcast immediately by area radio and television stations that interrupt programming to provide information about the missing child using Alberta's Emergency Public Warning System.

AMBER Alert provides a rapid response to the most serious child-abduction cases. It helps law-enforcement agencies immediately gain the assistance of thousands of broadcast and cable listeners and viewers to help in the abducted child's safe recovery.

For police to activate an AMBER Alert in Alberta, the following conditions must be met:

• confirm that a child, or someone with a mental or physical disability has been abducted
• establish that there is the danger of serious bodily harm or death
• provide enough descriptive information about the child, abductor and suspect's vehicle to ensure identification by the public
• issue the AMBER Alert within a reasonable time frame
• ensure that communications staff are available to handle public tips and deal with media requests.

When an AMBER Alert is activated, broadcasters:

• broadcast the AMBER Alert immediately
• contact the police service that issued the AMBER Alert for additional information for follow up alerts and news stories
• direct public callers to their local police, or if it is an emergency to 911.

Alberta's AMBER Alerts are sent to broadcasters over Alberta Municipal Affairs' Emergency Public Warning System (EPWS). This is the same system that provides immediate notice of impending floods or serious storms. Radio and television stations will immediately interrupt programming to broadcast the warning.

Frequently asked questions:

What is AMBER Alert?

• It is a voluntary, cooperative program between law-enforcement agencies and local broadcasters to send an emergency warning to the public when a child has been abducted and it is believed that the child's life is in grave danger.
• AMBER Alerts are broadcast immediately by area radio and television stations that interrupt programming to provide information about the missing child using Alberta's Emergency Public Warning System.
• In Alberta, only police can activate an AMBER Alert.

Where did the name AMBER Alert come from?

• The program was developed in the United States in 1996 in response to the abduction and murder of Amber Hagerman, a nine-year-old girl in Texas.

Why do we need an AMBER Alert program here in Alberta?

• The program works.
• While there are only one or two stranger abductions in Alberta per year, even one is too many.
• According to statistics from California, 70 per cent of the children who are kidnapped and later found murdered were killed within the first three hours of being taken. And 90 per cent of the children who are abducted for sexual purposes are killed within the first 24 hours.
• It provides police with a powerful tool to deal with the most serious child abduction cases.

When would an AMBER Alert be activated?

• There are very clear and strict criteria that must be in place before an AMBER Alert can be activated.
• Police must confirm that a child, or someone with a mental or physical disability, has been abducted and they are in danger of serious harm or death.
• Police must also be able to provide enough descriptive information about the child, the abductor, and the suspect's vehicle to ensure identification by the public.

How often might an AMBER Alert be issued in Alberta?

• We estimate that there may only be an AMBER Alert issued once or twice a year in Alberta.
• Thankfully, abductions are relatively rare in Alberta.

What role does the media play?

• They broadcast the information to the public.
• This is an important role as it galvanizes a community to assist in the recovery of a child who is at risk of being harmed.