VIDEO: South Yorkshire Police back campaign to help kids in danger

The two-week long national campaign, which was launched today, is headed by actor and comedian Stephen Fry.

People are being asked to register for free Child Rescue Alerts, activated when a child has gone missing and police believe their life is in imminent danger.

Child Rescue Alert is a partnership by the National Crime Agency, Missing People and education technology company Groupcall.

It was set up in 2008 and was enhanced in 2014 to allow the public to get involved thanks to funding from the People’s Postcode Lottery Dream Fund.

In 2016, the service is being funded by Royal Mail, which has registered the handheld devices of 123,000 postmen and women across the UK to receive alerts.

To register text HERO and your postcode to 85080. Registration costs a standard network text message rate. Once registered, it is then free to receive Child Rescue Alerts. 

Similar systems around the world have helped in the search for hundreds of children. 

More than 315,000 people are currently registered to receive targeted Child Rescue Alerts, which are issued by the charity Missing People on the request of police and the campaign aims to encourage more people and businesses to help.

Missing People charity patron Stephen Fry said: “I believe that Child Rescue Alert should be a national institution – something for everyone to find out about and sign up to.”