Alerts will only be issued if the National Crime Agency deems that the child’s life is in danger.
By Raghavendra M
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Facebook will soon start broadcasting missing children alerts in the UK. It has partnered with a charity named Missing People to help missing children quickly.
Missing People which manages the Child Rescue Alert system in partnership with the CEOP Command of the National Crime Agency and Groupcall, has taken the help of Facebook’s vast networking system for the purpose.
Facebook uses its geo-targeting tools to create alerts and send them to the people who can help find the missing children. National Crime Agency takes the decision on which alerts to be broadcast on the social media.
The alert feeds feature a photo of the missing child along with a description, location of the abduction and any other available information.
In a statement, Missing People CEO Jo Youle said, “Every minute after a child’s disappearance is crucial to bringing them home safely. This fantastic new partnership with Facebook will mean even more members of the public can help safeguard children in the most extreme danger – and hopefully save a child’s lifeâ€.
“Our aim with Child Rescue Alert is to reach as many people as possible in the local area when a child is abducted or disappears with immediate risk to lifeâ€, he added.
Since the launch of the enhanced Child Rescue Alert in May 2014 this is a milestone achievement, with Missing People and partnering organisations looking forward to improving the system’s effectiveness even further in the future, the statement said.
After the success of this method, the social networking site is likely to expand a similar program in other countries including US.