Tuesday, January 13 marked AMBER Alert Awareness Day, and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is reminding Ontarians that AMBER Alerts are a critical call for the public’s help in locating children believed to be in immediate danger.  

An AMBER Alert is an emergency broadcast issued in cases of child abduction when investigators believe the child is at imminent risk of serious bodily harm or death. The OPP stresses that these alerts are reserved for the most serious situations and are not issued lightly.  

When an AMBER Alert is activated, information about the missing child, and, when available, details about the suspected abductor or involved vehicle, is broadcast immediately through television and radio, as well as to LTE-connected and compatible wireless devices. Alerts are delivered through Alert Ready, Canada’s national emergency alerting system, to ensure the widest possible reach in the shortest amount of time.  

Before an AMBER Alert can be issued, strict criteria must be met. Police must believe that a child under the age of 18 has been abducted, that the child is at risk of serious bodily harm or death, and that there is sufficient descriptive information about the child, the abductor, and/or a vehicle to justify an immediate public broadcast. Authorities must also believe that issuing the alert will assist in locating the child.  

During an AMBER Alert, time is critical. The OPP is urging members of the public to carefully read or listen to the alert, remain alert for the child, suspect, or vehicle described, and report any tips or sightings immediately by calling 9-1-1.  

Police also remind the public that AMBER Alerts are emergency notifications intended to save lives. Calling 9-1-1 to complain about receiving an AMBER Alert is considered public mischief and may result in criminal charges.  

The OPP encourages Ontarians to familiarize themselves with how AMBER Alerts work and how they can help when an alert is issued. More information is available on the OPP website at opp.ca/AMBERAlert.