The Federation of Tour Operators has helped draft a six-point action plan to be put into place if a child goes missing overseas.
Launched by the News of the World, Code Madeleine is named after Madeleine McCann who went missing from an Algarve holiday apartment on May 3.
The code gives advice to parents and resort staff about what to do if a child disappears.
Steps to follow are:
1 – Hotel management or holiday company staff to immediately obtain a photograph and detailed description of the missing child, and to assist parents in liaising with the police. We recommend that parents be asked to bring with them an up-to-date photograph of their child.
2 – Designated employee to page Code Madeleine via nearest in-house telephone – implementing the procedure of circulating the photograph and communicating a detailed description of the missing child throughout the hotel/complex.
3 – Hotel staff, supported by holiday company representatives on the premises, to assist in search of public areas and to monitor entrances/exits from the premises.
4 – If the missing child is not found within 10 minutes of initial search of public areas, parent to take decision to notify local police. Hotel management or holiday company staff to assist.
5 – Hotel management or holiday company staff to use best endeavours to ensure any suspected crime scene area is isolated and kept free of contamination until police arrive.
6 – If the child is found accompanied by someone other than a parent or legal guardian, reasonable efforts to delay their departure will be used without putting the child, staff, or visitors at risk. Police will be notified and given details about the person accompanying the child.
FTO director general Andy Cooper said: “The FTO is pleased to have helped develop Code Madeleine and we hope it will bring added reassurance to our millions of family customers.”
Code Madeleine is based on Code Adam, named after abducted six-year-old Adam Walsh in the US.
By Bev Fearis
