Established on February 28, 2006, the “Alerte enlèvement” system is activated when a child goes missing. Initially modeled after the United States’ “Amber Alert,” which was created following the abduction and murder of young Amber Hagerman in Texas in 1996, it allows for the dissemination of a message aimed at alerting the public and gathering as many eyewitness accounts as possible, every fifteen minutes for a minimum of three renewable hours.
The announcement is broadcasted across various media outlets, airports, train stations, highways, and all over the country wherever it seems relevant. This also helps to alert investigators beyond French borders. The first activation of the Amber Alert system dates back to July 2006, when Émeline and Mélissa, aged 8 and 10, went missing in Angers (Maine-et-Loire).
This also marks an initial achievement: out of 37 activations over two decades, 35 successfully led to the safe recovery of children. In most instances, these minors had been abducted by one of their parents.