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£3.5 Million Case "Review"

The Prime Minister’s instruction to the Metropolitan Police to review the Madeleine McCann case is in breach of the draft protocol that is supposed to protect the operational independence of the police

• Author: Toby
• Filed under: Conservative Party, Criminal justice, Culture media and sport, Europe, House of Lords, Liberal Democrats, London, Parliament, Policing, Security and counter-terrorism

Friday
May 13,2011

David Cameron has instructed the Metropolitan Police to review the case of Madeleine McCann. This is in response to an open letter in The Sun and is entirely predictable in terms of the “pulling power” of News International on Government policy.
However, his intervention drives a coach and horses through the draft protocol issued by the Home Office designed to preserve the operational independence of the Police which says:

“The operational independence of the police service, and the decisions made by its operational leadership remain reserved to the Office of Chief Constable and that Office alone.”

Whilst no-one doubts the desirability of doing what can sensibly be done to find out what has happened to Madeleine McCann, I can imagine that the senior leadership of the Metropolitan Police are not exactly happy about this. It again embroils their officers in a high profile investigation, where the chances of success are unclear, and which will divert limited investigative resources away from other matters.

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1. A morte de Madeleine « mariacpoisMay 13th, 2011 at 16:12[...] http://www.lordtobyharris.org.uk/the-prime-ministers-instruction-to-the-metropolitan-police-to-revie... [...]
2. Geoff StephensonMay 13th, 2011 at 18:49The Metropolitan Police is for Londoners. It is not a personal police force for the Prime Minister to get headlines. It is not a police force for people from Leicester to challenge the efficiency of the Portuguese police.
   Why should the taxpayers of Britain, or the council taxpayers of London, pay to investigate a crime committed in Portugal four years ago?
   Geoff Stephenson
3. PamMay 13th, 2011 at 19:14Absolutely agree with Geoff Stephenson’s comments. How dare the Prime Minister ride roughshod over the policing needs of London to cosy-up to The Sun newspaper/Murdoch and the weird McCanns and their team? And why should we Londoners pay for our police force to investigate the disappearance of a child in Portugal four years ago, who, along with her 2-year-old siblings, had been virtually abandoned as far as the duty of care of her parents was concerned while they were out wining and dining every night? It’s a matter for the Portuguese authorities and Interpol. Haven’t the Met got its work cut out already, especially at a time when cuts are being made to the public sector work force? The McCanns have definitely got friends in high places and this announcement only feeds into the conspiracy theories that there is something sinister behind this case.
4. crewemumMay 13th, 2011 at 20:01Absolute disgrace that, in these economic times, money should be wasted on investigation into the disappearance of a child who is certainly dead after being left by parents who would rather go out for a meal with friends than care for their children.
5. Ian HitchingsMay 13th, 2011 at 20:03September 7, 2007. Kate McCann entered the Polícia Judiciária in Portimão in the morning and the questioning extended into the evening. She was heard as a witness, but the tension in the air was evident. For the first time, people were concentrated at the Policia Judiciaria building’s door and murmured words of mistrust regarding the couple.
   Police dogs had detected cadaver odour on Maddie’s mother’s clothes. A piece of evidence that the authorities intended to use as a trump, during a questioning that only changed course on the next day, after the Policia Judiciaria failed to see their doubts clarified.
   Kate began by replying to all the questions, but when she was made an arguida, she stopped talking to the police inspectors. She went silent, in the company of her lawyer, and accepted all the insinuations in a provocative manner. If the she had nothing to hide – then she would have had nothing to fear.
   Less than 48 hours later, Kate and Gerry travel to England with the twins, leaving the investigation into the disappearance of their daughter, who meanwhile had become four, behind. They later guaranteed that they would return if necessary – which they never did, although they were never formally requested to return – as Kate nor Gerry are no longer arguidos for the suspected involvement in concealing the child’s body.
   There are 48 questions that Kate did not want to answer during the interrogation and which reflect the investigators’ doubts. If the Kate had nothing to hide – then she would have had nothing to fear. More than four years after Maddie disappeared, many of these questions remain unanswered.
   One must pose the question, why on earth would any parent want to hinder an on-going police investigation by taking a very determined view not to answer questions the police put to her?
   Ian Hitchings.
   True Crime Writer & Author.
6. Ian HitchingsMay 13th, 2011 at 20:13September 7, 2007. Kate McCann entered the Polícia Judiciária in Portimão in the morning and the questioning extended into the evening. She was heard as a witness, but the tension in the air was evident. For the first time, people were concentrated at the Policia Judiciaria building’s door and murmured words of mistrust regarding the couple.
   Police dogs had detected cadaver odour on Maddie’s mother’s clothes. A piece of evidence that the authorities intended to use as a trump, during a questioning that only changed course on the next day, after the Policia Judiciaria failed to see their doubts clarified.
   Kate began by replying to all the questions, but when she was made an arguida, she stopped talking to the police inspectors. She went silent, in the company of her lawyer, and accepted all the insinuations in a provocative manner. If she had nothing to hide – then she would have had nothing to fear.
   Less than 48 hours later, Kate and Gerry travel to England with the twins, leaving the investigation into the disappearance of their daughter, who meanwhile had become four, behind. They later guaranteed that they would return if necessary – which they never did, although they were never formally requested to return – as Kate nor Gerry are no longer arguidos for the suspected involvement in concealing the child’s body.
   There are 48 questions that Kate did not want to answer during the interrogation and which reflect the investigators’ doubts. If Kate had nothing to hide – then she would have had nothing to fear. More than four years after Maddie disappeared, many of these questions remain unanswered.
   One must pose the question, why would any parent want to hinder an on-going police investigation by taking a very determined view not to answer questions the police put to them?
   Ian Hitchings
   True Crime Writer & Author.
7. Tim KingMay 13th, 2011 at 20:27I could not disagree more. This poor family has suffered terribly. The PM is 100% correct in asking the Police to help. Independence of the Police not relevant. Our taxes are paid to help people like this. Our Police are the best. Set them to work.
8. Rodric BreezeMay 13th, 2011 at 20:47I must congratulate Lord Harris on what could be described as “malicious mischief making”
   I thought it was quite clear that the Met had been asked, not ordered, not required. Asked. If they are asked then they have the opportunity to decline.
9. dickieboMay 13th, 2011 at 20:49

Click link for more Comments http://www.lordtobyharris.org.uk/the-prime-ministers-instruction-to-the-metropolitan-police-to-review-madeleine-mccanns-death-is-in-breach-of-the-draft-protocol-that-is-supposed-to-protect-the-operational-independence-of-the-poli/  - Thanks to Ka Ossis for the Info! My Source  

GEORGE LAIRD - BRILLIANT ARTICLE FROM HIS BLOG Saturday, May 28, 2011 Met Police will carry out a review of Madeleine McCann Case but why prior to this were the Portuguese authorities not onboard? "Dear All Through the Holyrood election and in the English local Council elections the Tories ran with a slogan which simply said ‘commonsense’. Everything was commonsense this and commonsense that. When David Cameron said that Met Police were going to review the Madeleine McCann and throw £3.5 million at it, I thought that was strange. It is strange because for all the talk of a review, no one is using the pertinent word in this case; re-open. And unless it is re-opened, with the co-operation of the Portuguese Judiciary Police (PJ), it is meaningless. When Cameron popped up and made the announcement, I would have thought that prior to this, that there was already some kind of agreement in place between the British and Portuguese authorities. And it turns out there isn’t! This has lead to the Portuguese stating: “the English need authorization from the Portuguese authorities to investigate in our country, because they do not have competence to act in Portugal”. So, out of jurisdiction and no co-operation lined up, this isn’t a serious investigation because right from the start it is flawed. Some high-ranking officers of the British police have equally criticised this decision, arguing that the money that is to be spent is more necessary for other cases. Lord Harris, a member of the Metropolitan Police states: "It again embroils their officers in a high-profile investigation, where the chances of success are unclear, and which will divert limited investigative resources away from other matters." To pull 30 frontline detectives offline and spend million pounds when the necessary prior work to ensure a proper investigation can be done is a complete farce. This all came about after Kate and Gerry McCann, sent a letter to David Cameron, in which they asked for a review of the case. 'Dear Prime Minister, As a devoted father and family man, you know the importance of children. Our beloved eldest child, Madeleine, was abducted from Praia da Luz, Portugal, four years ago. Since then, we have devoted all our energies to ensuring her safe return. Today we are asking you - and the British and Portuguese governments - to help find Madeleine and bring her back to her loving family. We live in hope that Madeleine will be found alive and returned to us. One call might be all that is needed to lead to Madeleine and her abductor. To this end, we are seeking a joint INDEPENDENT, TRANSPARENT and COMPREHENSIVE review of ALL information held in relation to Madeleine's disappearance. Thus far, there has been NO formal review of the material held by the police authorities - which is routine practice in most major unsolved crimes. It is not right that a young vulnerable British citizen has essentially been given up on. This remains an unsolved case of a missing child. Children are our most precious gift. Please don't give up on Madeleine. Kate & Gerry McCann' And with that Cameron was sucked into the McCann Circus along with 30 detectives and £3.5 million pounds. Such a move makes Cameron a hostage to fortune when the next high profile case comes along and he turns it down. Contrary to the general feelings within the PJ, Pedro do Carmo, joint national director at the Judiciary Police, cited by “I” newspaper, states that the PJ is available to cooperate in this case, and committed to finding out the “credible, consistent and relevant factors that may contribute to clarify what happened to Madeleine McCann”. In that case, issues surround her parents as arguidos will come up again. According to members of the PJ, the review of the Madeleine McCann case questions the professionalism of their officers, who did everything that was possible to solve the child’s disappearance. Sources recall that, despite them having good criminal investigation labs, a political decision was made to have the tests carried out in English labs. The source said: “We let the English do everything that they want.” Because of various political influences which was due to the missing child’s parents’ social and political status. That means Gordon Brown and the Labour Government who looking for a feel good factor to boost Brown’s popularity became a problem in the investigation. The Judiciary Police had already been warned that the Scotland Yard had the intention to analyse the case again. This does not mean, however, that the criminal process, which is under the Public Ministry’s tutelage, will be reopened. This process may be picked up again if new evidence that contribute to the investigation’s development are discovered. Another problem is that some of the officers that are involved in the investigation into the disappearance of Maddie McCann, four years ago in Praia da Luz, are close to retirement or about to present a voluntary leave. And this will cause the Met Police no end of trouble because the documents are nearly all in Portuguese and it would be better that these people were available. It is no surprise that the McCann’s four years down the line and with a book to promote have written publicly to David Cameron.They are quite good at manipulating the media; however at anything during the time when the case was archived they could have asked the Portuguese authorities to re-open it. They didn’t and still haven’t because they can’t control or direct a re-opened investigation. And still there is no justice for Madeleine McCann, just considerable number of questions which remain unanswered. disappeare Kate McCann is alleged to have said “the kidnapper” who seized Madeleine may also have drugged her other two children. If she thought they were drugged, why didn’t she taken them to hospital on the night Madeleine disappeared to get checked? Yours sincerely George Laird" The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University http://glasgowunihumanrights.blogspot.com/