A smartphone application which can help track down missing kids faster by providing crucial information, such as their photos and dates of birth, immediately to cops has been launched in Australia.
The Australian Police Child ID App will help parents and guardians more easily collect and send important information about their children to authorities in the event of a disappearance or abduction.
The app was adapted from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Child ID App in the United States. The app allows families to store photographs and vital information about their children on their mobile phone.
In the devastating event that a child goes missing, this information can be immediately provided to authorities. While the vast majority of children who go missing are quickly returned safely, usually within 24 hours of going missing, the application can be used to quickly provide crucial information to police, assisting them to expedite their search, according to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
The application also includes safety advice and checklists for parents on keeping children safe, information about what to do in the hours immediately after a child goes missing and provides quick and efficient access to emergency contact phone numbers.