Amber Alert Changes

Police agencies across Ontario now have new, clearer guidelines over when to issue an Amber Alert in the case of abducted children.

Ontario Provincial Police Inspector Dave Ross says the wording has been simplified to make it easier for police and the public to understand the guidelines for when to issue an alert that's broadcast on highway signs, radio and television stations and in text messages.

Ross says previously, police had to actually confirm an abduction had taken place before an Amber Alert was issued _ now they only have to believe there's been an abduction.

He says police now only have to believe a child is in danger to issue an alert, whereas before they had to believe the child was in danger of serious bodily harm or death.

And now police only need to have information about the child or the abductor or the suspect vehicle, instead of all three, to issue an alert.

Ross says the case of slain eight-year-old Victoria Stafford _ in which an Amber Alert was not issued _ was a catalyst to initiate the review into the Amber Alert system, but it wasn't the only factor that led to the review being called by police commissioner Julian Fantino.