Welcome to SMS alert in case of kidnapping

Since January 1st 2010 the Swiss police has a rapid and comprehensive alarm system, which will be used in case of a reasonable suspicion or certainty, that a person has been kidnapped and threat to life or physical condition. The alarms will be notified by signet

The messages will be spread through radio, television, SMS alert, motorway display panels, announcements in railway stations, airports and shopping centers as well as through news agencies and online media.

The alarm system has been implemented by the Conference of Cantonal Justice and Police Directors (CCJPD) in collaboration with the Federal Justice and Police (FDJP). It is based on the French "Alerte enlèvement" and enables an immediate, comprehensive and systematic dissemination of information in case a person has been kidnapped. This decision was made in recognition of the fact that the rescue of the victim in case of kidnapping within the first crucial hours is absolute important for a successful criminal investigation and the rescue of the victim. The alarmwill be activated as soon as there is sufficient information and it must be feared that the kidnapped person is endangered.

The alerts will be announced, based on a special convention, by the SRG, the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO), the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), operators of the airports Zurich, Geneva, Basel-Mulhouse, Lugano and Berne and the swiss news agency SDA. In addition, the amber alerts will be transmitted by the mobile operators via SMS to their voluntarily registered subscribers. As of spring 2011, there will be more companies involved such as Neo-advertising (which operates with advertising screens in shopping centers) and furthermore ten online media services (Newsnetz, NZZ, 20 Minutes, Neue Luzerner Zeitung, Blick, St. Galler Tagblatt, Südostschweiz Newsmedia AG, Corriere del Ticino, Le Nouvelliste, Le Temps) and other partners will be integrated into this alarm system, to ensure a preferably immediate, comprehensive and systematic dissemination of information in case of an alert.

The cantonal law enforcement authorities will be responsible for the contents of the alarm text and the triggering of the alert. Public information will be answered by a call center, which will be arranged within 30 minutes by the Federal Office of Police.

Further information about the amber alert system can be found here:
- Conception report kidnapping alert system from October 2009 (German)
- Convention kidnapping alert system from October 2009 (German)