A powerful tool in the fight against child abduction is being launched today (Tuesday) as part of International Missing Children's Day.

Supported by the National Policing Improvement Agency's missing person's bureau, Child Rescue Alert (CRA) is a powerful alliance between the police, the press and the public which seeks to locate an abducted child and bring them to safety.

By fast-tracking police appeals to broadcasters in the UK, the process aims to engage the public quickly through the media, to increase the number of eyes and ears on the streets.

A typical appeal will include the description of the child, a description of the suspected abductor and any vehicle they are driving, together with location details.

Alerts will always carry the action line number 0300 2000 333, which people should call if they have information about the disappearance or sightings.

Chief Constable Peter Neyroud, Chief Executive of the NPIA, said: "The decisions taken in the first few hours after a child's disappearance are often the most vital.

"Through Child Rescue Alert the community is able to form a strong alliance to help in the hunt for child abductors when an alert is activated.

"It is fitting that the NPIA should relaunch CRA on International Missing Children's Day, which forms a poignant reminder of the sense of devastation caused to the parents and families of children who go missing." ACC George Hamilton (Strathclyde Police) who is the Secretary of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland crime business area added, "Child Rescue Alert is a partnership between the police, press and public, and builds on our existing procedures for responding to an incident where a child is abducted.

"In these circumstances, speed is clearly very important. By joining with colleagues in the media, police forces are able to make large numbers of the public aware of the situation, requesting that they remain alert, following a description of a person or vehicle, and call 0300 2000 333 if they have information.

The alert process is supported by a national network of police call handlers. Information is taken, evaluated and passed to the investigation team quickly, assisting the police to find the child quickly. Child abduction is very rare in Scotland but having these new processes in place enhances our ability to respond more effectively."