Child Rescue Alert
The Situation
I was watching a news story about the search for a missing child and was stunned at the statistic on missing children. The new reporter stated that with viewers overwhelmed with a high-profile missing child story and this particular missing child not being ‘as attractive’, and her parents without the resources, the chances of finding her were not considered high.
Whilst I may not be able to help this child, I felt there had to be something to avoid incidents and reports like this.
The Task
I decided to understand more about the issue of missing children and learned that it was easier to find a dog or a bicycle in the UK than a missing child, (due to the processes).
I tried to understand about systems in other countries, (particularly the US ‘Amber alert’ system).
I then took a suggestion to my organisations sales team that a service I had just implemented for Government and 400 local authorities, may be adapted to offer a solution. The business did not feel that it was a viable option to pursue.
The Action / Approach
I refined the solution and then wrote to the Home Secretary, to explain my findings, explaining my background and work I had done.
I suggested a solution in order to create a missing child alert system, that would be cost-effective and easy to implement and suggesting how it might work.
- The Home Secretary made an appointment for me to meet the NPIA to share my ideas and explore this further.
- The NPIA said the solution took then over 18 month forward of their current thing on this matter.
- With the proposed solution outline and the fact that we could utilise an existing contracts to work around tender delay, the NPIA were keen to move forward.
The Result
In May 2010 the ‘Child Rescue Alert’ system was introduced in to the UK.
The solution utilised transport, communication tool, broadcasting tools to instigate a coordinated and moving search, creating awareness and calling on volunteers as and when required.
