Amber Alert Coming to Nova Scotia

Police in Nova Scotia will soon have another tool to help protect children from abductors.

Justice Minister Michael Baker said today, Jan. 7, his department is working closely with Child Find Nova Scotia, the RCMP, municipal police, media and other partners to introduce the Amber Alert program in this province.

"Amber Alert is a proven tool," said Mr. Baker. "Police agencies throughout North America have used it to find children who otherwise might have been killed or injured. I want to congratulate the agencies we're working with and thank them on behalf of families throughout our province."

Amber Alert is a media notification program that was first used in 1997 after the death of nine-year-old Amber Hagerman in Texas. In certain cases, police notify broadcasters when a child is abducted. Regular programming is interrupted so the public can hear details that could help save the child from harm.

Dianna Cann, executive director of Child Find Nova Scotia and chair of the Nova Scotia Amber Alert Committee, is pleased that the process to establish Amber Alert is underway.

"Amber Alert was Child Find's primary focus for 2003, so we are elated with the high level of responsiveness and commitment shown by the committee partners in the development of the Nova Scotia Amber Alert Program. Amber Alert is an effective method of finding abducted children," she said.

"Youth are a priority for the RCMP in Nova Scotia," said RCMP assistant commissioner Ian Atkins. "We're proud to be implementing this program with our partners to help protect the children of this province."

Mr. Baker said he expects the steering committee will be able to formally announce the program later this winter.

The committee includes Child Find Nova Scotia, the National Crime Prevention Centre, Nova Scotia Chiefs of Police Association, RCMP, Nova Scotia Department of Justice, Halifax Regional Police Service, Cape Breton Regional Police Service, and the Atlantic Association of Broadcasters. For more information on the Amber Alert program visit www.codeamber.org .