September 2010 - Missing......

Wed, 1 September 2010

“As a parent, even though statistically I know that it is unlikely that one of my children would be abducted, it’s one thing I cannot control. Whether they are at home, school, in the car or with friends’, I can take steps to ensure their safety”

A child goes missing every six hours in South Africa, according to figures released by the South African Police Service Missing Persons Bureau. About 1500 children are reported missing each year in South Africa, with more than 90% being found within the first week.

This unfortunately still leaves at least 10% of the children not being traced. These figures are regarded as conservative.

The first 24 hours after a child goes missing, is the most crucial and imperative to create awareness and to react immediately.

nu•m8 will assist parents in providing a GPS location of a missing child or notify the parent when taken outside of a safe zone.

nu.m8 is the world’s first GPS locator designed exclusively to locate children. It enables you to find your child, whenever you feel you need to know, at home or abroad. All you need is a mobile phone or computer to find their precise location.

Unlike other locator products, nu.m8 is a child’s digital watch which cannot be removed or deactivated without your knowledge. If this should happen an instant alert is sent straight to your phone and/or email with your child’s location. No other child locator in the world can match this.

Another great feature of nu.m8 is the ability to set up a virtual fence as a ‘safe zone’. If your child steps outside this zone you’ll be notified.
nu.m8 uses the same Pinpoint precise GPS technology used in SatNav systems and is accurate to 3 metres.

We have developed our own proprietary Cell ID technology which provides a quick approximate location of your child. This is then refined using GPS to achieve an accuracy of 3 metres. The benefit of using dual locating technology is that the child can still be located in instances where normal GPS technology may not be sufficient. This action is driven via a mobile phone using the texting facility or via the internet using our secure Portal.

• NU-M8 GPS/GSM Child LocatorR 1,499.00nu•m8 is the world’s first GPS/GSM locator device specifically designed to be worn by children. Launched by UK location Services ...
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Know where they are
Simply connect to the lok8u customer portal from your PC or text message from your mobile phone to locate your child, anytime, anywhere.

Instant alerts if removed
If the strap of your child’s nu.m8 is opened without your authority, an immediate alert is sent via SMS and email to warn you this has happened

Set your own boundaries
The ‘Safe Zone’ feature allows you to easily set your own defined area by time and day. An immediate alert is sent via SMS and email to inform you if your child strays outside this area.

 

Checklist: What You Should Do When Your Child is Missing?
The First 24 Hours

• Immediately report your child as missing to yourlocal law enforcement agency. Ask investigators to enter your child into the National Crime Information Centre Missing Persons File. There is no waiting period for entry into NCIC under the age of 18.
• Request that law enforcement put out a Be On The Look Out (BOLO) bulletin. Ask them about involving the National Organisations, such as Missing Children in the search for your child. Contact details: www.missingchildren.org.za or call them on 0726477464
• Limit access to your home until law enforcement arrives and has collected possible evidence. Do not touch or remove anything from your child’s room or from your home. Remember that clothing; sheets,personal items, computers and even trash may hold clues to the whereabouts of your child.
• Ask for the name and telephone number of the law enforcement investigator assigned to your case, and keep this information in a safe and convenient place.
• Give law enforcement investigators all the facts and circumstances related to the disappearance of your child, including what efforts have already been made to search for your child.
• Write a detailed description of the clothing worn by your child and the personal items he or she had at the time of the disappearance. Include in your description any personal identification marks, such as birthmarks, scars, tattoos, or mannerisms that may help in finding your child. If possible find a picture of your child that shows these identifications marks and give it to law enforcement.
• Make a list of friends, acquaintances, and anyone else who might have information or clue about your child’s whereabouts. Include telephone numbers and addresses, if possible. Tell your law enforcement investigator about anyone who moved in or out of the neighbourhood within the past year, anyone whose interest in or involvement with the family changed in recent months, and anyone who appeared to be overly interested in the child.
• Find recent photographs of your child in both black and white and colour. Make copies of these pictures for your law enforcement agency, the media, your National missing children’s clearing house, the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, and other Non profit organisations.
• Call SACMEC at (012-393 200 2) or Childline at (08000 55 555) to ask for help with photo distribution. Also, ask for the telephone numbers of other non-profit organisations that might be able to help.
• Ask your law enforcement agency to organize a search for your child. Ask them about using tracking or trailing dogs (preferably bloodhounds) in the search effort
• Ask your law enforcement agency for help in contacting the media
• Designate one person to answer your telephone. Keep a notebook or pad of paper by the telephone so this person can jot down names, telephone numbers, dates and times of calls, and other information relating to each call.
• Keep a notebook or pad paper with you at all times to write down your thoughts or questions and record important information, such as names, dates, or telephone numbers.
• Take good care of yourself and your family, because your child needs you to be strong as hard as it may be, force yourself to get rest, eat nourishing food, and talk to someone about your tumultuous feelings. 

Source:
http://www.hoedspruit.co.za/MISSING%20CHILD%20-%20detailed%20document.pdf


Missing children procedure from the SAPS

• There is NO waiting period before reporting a person as missing; time is of the essence so it should be done immediately. The sooner you report a missing person to the police, the sooner they can assist you in searching for him/her.
• Go to the nearest police station to report a missing person.
• When reporting a missing person, you need a clear, recent photograph and all basic information on the missing person, as well as the exact circumstances of his/her disappearance in order to enable the police to assist you.
• To assist the police when reporting a missing person, know the schedules and movements of loved ones and family members; know your children's friends. Make a point of remembering the clothing they wear. This information is absolutely necessary for investigations.
• When a missing person is found or returns home voluntarily, you should return to the SAPS as soon as possible and report it to them. This is important in order for them to cancel the information on police records.
• The number to call with any information on a missing person's whereabouts is SAPS Crime Stop 08600 10111.
• After you have taken IMMEDIATE ACTION by reporting a missing child to your local police station, there are always FOLLOW-UP actions you can take:
• Check or visit several local spots that the missing child frequently visited.
• Have posters or flyers with a picture of the missing child made and place them in store windows or notice boards in the community.
• Check again with your child's friends, school, neighbours, etc. Don't exclude old boyfriends, friends made at school camps, friends from out of town, friends made on the computer, etc.
• Search for clues in your child's bedroom, computer files, diary, etc.
• Ask the police to request the Bureau for Missing Persons to publicize the case in the print and electronic media.

Source:
http://www.saps.gov.za/crime_prevention/safety_tips/missing_children_persons.htm
 

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