The NSW Police Force is to utilise a geographically targeted SMS alert system to assist police in locating high-risk missing persons across the State.
State Crime Command Director at NSW Police, Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Bennett said the new geo-targeting tool would help police locate missing people when there were serious concerns for their safety.
“As these situations are unpredictable, the launch date of this new alert system cannot be determined in advance,” Det Ch Supt Bennett said.
“We now have the capabilities to use this system when there is an operational need in NSW and therefore want the community to be aware these functions exist; in the event they receive an SMS in the future,” he said.
“When this tool is used, a brief message can be sent out to all mobile devices within a defined area.”
Det Ch Supt Bennett said the message could include a brief description of the missing person, as well as details of how to report a sighting.
“This system is currently used by States and Territories to send out alerts within specific areas in the event of likely emergency situations, such as flood, bush fire or other extreme weather conditions,” he said.
Coordinator of the Missing Persons Registry at NSW Police, Detective Inspector Glen Browne said the circumstances in which people went missing were varied, as were the associated risks.
“It is proposed that the use of geographically targeted SMS messages will only be used in high-risk circumstances, as determined by the new missing persons operating procedures which have been implemented State-wide,” Det Insp Browne said.
He said examples of high-risk missing persons included people living with dementia; children with developmental delays; and young children who went missing in large crowds.
“In each of these situations, serious concerns are held for a person’s safety if they are not located quickly – making the SMS tool invaluable to first-responders,” the Detective Inspector said.
