Overview
Each AMBER Alert broadcast:
- asks for tips to help find an abducted child – or adult with a proven mental or physical disability – who is at risk of harm
- gives details about the child or adult
If you have a tip about an AMBER Alert, immediately call the number in the alert or 911.
Activation
Only police can activate an AMBER Alert. Before doing this, they will conduct a thorough investigation and collect the information necessary to issue it.
Criteria
Police only activate an alert if all 4 activation criteria have been met:
- a child or an adult with a proven mental or physical disability has been abducted
- the child or adult is in danger of serious harm or death
- there’s enough descriptive information to enable the public to identify the:
- child or adult
- abductor, or
- mode of transportation
- there’s a reasonable expectation the abductee could be returned, or the abductor could be apprehended
Details
AMBER Alerts may include information like:
- descriptions – suspect, abductee, vehicles
- abduction details – when, where, how the abduction happened
- locations – the last possible location of the suspect or abductee
- directions – directions the suspect may be traveling
Broadcasts
When an AMBER Alert is broadcasted, the alert:
- interrupts radio and TV stations in Alberta
- appears on social media platforms such as:
- RSS feeds
- appears on:
- the Alberta Emergency Alert web page
- digital highway billboards
- notifies:
- the Canadian Border Services Agency
- other police agencies throughout Alberta
- sends:
- alerts to subscribed mobile devices through the Alberta Emergency Alert app
- a message to compatible mobile devices through the Alert Ready Emergency Alert System
Partners
The AMBER Alert program is based on a co-operative partnership between:
- Alberta Justice and Solicitor General
- Alberta Municipal Affairs
- Alberta Transportation
- police services in Alberta
- the media
- Canada Border Services Agency
- the public
- other provinces:
- each province has their own AMBER Alert system, but efforts can also be coordinated across provinces