Operation Grange

Keep the faith, helenmeg.

I know it's bloody hard to do so though. Really hard.

Yes it is:x - but at least we have a laugh here

Absolutely.

An Andrew walks into a bar on a night off and says.....

No idea. Was trying to think of something amusing but totally lost myself.

So Helenmeg, do you come here often?

That did make me laugh!!! Yes I frequent this place far too often.. More than is good for my sanity

I can relate to that.

Well the anniversary has come and gone with the expected stories,OG will now disappear in a purple haze until the autumn when it will be given another batch of funding to follow the one last,last lead.Nothing to see here folks.

I am not sure whether this should be in latest news or here, but I think it is a good article:

http://www.9news.com.au/world/2017/05/15/12/03/uk-police-guilty-of-flawed-tunnel-vision-in-hunt-for-maddie-mccann-answers

UK police guilty of flawed tunnel vision in hunt for Maddie McCann answers, former top cop says
Mark Saunokonoko By Mark Saunokonoko
Colin Sutton, a senior investigating officer in the Metropolitan Police from 2003 to 2011, appears on a Sky News documentary examining the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Source: Sky News.
Colin Sutton, a senior investigating officer in the Metropolitan Police from 2003 to 2011, appears on a Sky News documentary examining the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Source: Sky News.
Scotland Yard's six-year investigation into Madeleine McCann's disappearance was a poisoned chalice laced with critical errors because of a high level agenda to not interrogate the child's parents, according to a former UK detective.

The explosive revelations were made by retired Metropolitan Police homicide cop Colin Sutton, who at one time was touted as a possible candidate to lead Operation Grange and the search for Maddie, now missing for 10 years.

Operation Grange's narrow remit to focus only on the theory that the four-year-old was abducted from the family's holiday apartment in Portugal was unusual and a "missed opportunity", Sutton told nine.com.au.

In 2010, with planning underway to launch Operation Grange, Sutton received a phone tip off from "a very senior Metropolitan police officer", warning him about the looming investigation and how it would be handled.

The insider told Sutton, who served 30 years with London's Met before retiring in 2011, that the dozens of murder detectives assigned to Operation Grange would be instructed where they could and couldn't look.

"I immediately assumed that what was meant was that the [McCann] family and Tapas 7 [the group of seven friends on holiday with the McCanns] were a no-go area," Sutton said.

Ex-detective warned of flaws in $19m Maddie McCann review
Gerry and Kate McCann aboard Sir Philip Green's private jet at Faro airport in Portugal, as they leave for Rome to prepare a meeting with the Pope Benedict XVI on 30 May, 2017. Source: AFP
Gerry and Kate McCann aboard Sir Philip Green's private jet at Faro airport in Portugal, as they leave for Rome to prepare a meeting with the Pope Benedict XVI on 30 May, 2017. Source: AFP
In May 2011, when Operation Grange was launched, the detective's instincts were proven correct.

The "crucial phrase", as Sutton calls it, in the Operation Grange remit was a line stating the review would be carried out "as if the abduction occurred in the UK".

That meant Kate and Gerry McCann, despite several concerning inconsistencies in their witness statements, were not to be looked at, Sutton said.

"It was almost this unspoken elephant in the room," he told nine.com.au.

"The rest of [the remit] is really of little consequence after that because that's sort of saying … we are only treating this as an abduction and we are not looking at any other scenario."

Sutton also hit out at Scotland Yard claims that the McCanns, who have always denied any involvement in the disappearance of Madeleine, had been cleared by Portugal's police force, the Policia Judiciaria (PJ).

Portuguese authorities shelved the investigation in 2008, 14 months after Madeleine vanished on May 3, 2007, and in doing so lifted arguidos (formal suspect) status from the McCanns.

"The PJ have never cleared anyone," Sutton said.

Ceasing the investigation "just meant they couldn't find enough evidence to proceed against them. Their view is that the parents are certainly not eliminated".

Madeleine Beth McCann: missing since May 3, 2007. Source: Getty.
Madeleine Beth McCann: missing since May 3, 2007. Source: Getty.
Sutton, who led more than 30 successful murder investigations, said it was well-rehearsed, best police practice in cases such as Madeleine McCann to eliminate those closest to the child first.

"Also any kind of investigation of murder or akin to murder the other place you need to eliminate early on is those that last saw the victim alive.

"In this case you've got essentially the same group of people who are both close to the victim and the last to see her alive. I'd always want to start with that.

"I don't understand why that hasn't been done [by Operation Grange], because it would appear to be in everyone's interest."

Earlier this month, Assistant Commissioner of London's Metropolitan Police Mark Rowley denied Scotland Yard had a closed mind to the possibility of Kate and Gerry McCann’s involvement.

"The involvement of the parents, that was dealt with at the time by the original investigation by the Portuguese," Asst Com Rowley said during a media briefing.

"We had a look at all the material and we are happy that was all dealt with and there is no reason whatsoever to reopen that or start rumours that was a line of investigation."

When asked if Kate and Gerry McCann had ever been questioned as potential suspects by Scotland Yard detectives, Asst Com Rowley replied: "No."

Colin Sutton: The Operation Grange remit showed that they were only looking at an abduction as the only possible scenario.
Colin Sutton: The Operation Grange remit showed that they were only looking at an abduction as the only possible scenario. Source: Sky News
Sutton said he disagreed with Asst Com Rowley's assessment. He said inconsistencies in some of Kate and Gerry's statements, Kate's 2011 book madeleine and also some of the witness accounts of the Tapas 7 disturbed him.

The Portugal detective who oversaw the original investigation, Goncalo Amaral, wrote a book theorising Maddie had died in apartment 5A, that Kate and Gerry had disposed of the body and the parents had faked their daughter's abduction.

After police found no forensic evidence in the apartment to back up claims of a break in, Gerry's statements to police detailing what doors he and Kate had used while checking on their three sleeping children changed.

Portugal's police also had some doubts over the accuracy of timelines provided by Kate and Gerry, and the Tapas 7, in the critical hours either side of Maddie being reported missing at 10pm.

Specialist cadaver and blood dogs were brought to Praia da Luz from the UK, and signalled hits inside apartment 5A and a hire car rented by the McCanns 25 days after Madeleine disappeared. DNA swabs were taken but ruled inconclusive.

"There was a part of me that always had this hope in the back of my mind that actually there was lots of busy and important covert work going on in the background of Operation Grange, that there was going to be some kind of bombshell announcement.

"I fear that is not going to be the case now. I fear it will just peter out and probably this thing will never get resolved."

It was "entirely possible" that some of Operation Grange's remit was forced upon Scotland Yard by government officials who rubber stamped the multi-million-dollar funding of the investigation, Sutton said.

In March Operation Grange was injected with an additional $150,000 to cover the investigation through to September, 2017.

An excellent article by Mark again.

Andrew wrote:An excellent article by Mark again.

Yes very good, although not well received over the road ..sigh!  He seems to write the facts as they are.  He is also in touch with Sonia Poulton, which is interesting, and perhaps that's why he's not lauded over the road

I have just gone to have a look, and I can't understand the objections. I also don't understand why the discussion over whistles, and whether they have been blown, who cares whether he is actually a whistle blower, what matters is that it is being said? Surely?

Yes, it would be wonderful if that were in the UK press, but the fact it is in Australia is better than nothing.

The media monitoring unit will pick it up anyway, and it will help add the pressure.


I also think that a certain couple will see it, they deny reading any of the media coverage, but then seem to try to fill the holes in their story as they are exposed.

I have just seen Tony Bennett's post saying that 'I had changed my mind' - WTF, where have I said that??????  I have said Colin Sutton was phoned about the remit for an 'review' i.e. collating all the evidence from various sources, and not an investigation, therefore my feelings are still the same, I believe the Met are doing their job of finding what happened to Madeleine and would never have taken it into the investigation phase otherwise.  Blimey, if they wanted to cover it up they could have done so years ago.....

How dare he say I have changed my mind.   Tony Bennett please note - I have not, so please remove

Well, we women do have a reputation generally for changing our minds!

Freedom wrote:Well, we women do have a reputation generally for changing our minds!

No we bloody don't!

Let me say this again, this is what I believe.  Op Grange had a remit for a 'review' - that is when Colin was phoned, and the person who phoned him would have said it was not an investigation but a bringing together of all the agencies files to study and see what should still be done.  They were not looking to investigate anyone at that time, therefore I believe CS got the wrong end of the stick and took that to mean he could not investigate the parents or anyone for that matter, he could look at the files and pass onto the PJ what may still be done with all the various infor in front of him.  It was only a couple of years later that the 'review' became a full blown investigation, and then, only then can police look into things as a criminal case and take necessary action.

I think Colin Sutton would probably agree with that, he was asked only at the review stage.  A review does not investigate.


Not a lawyer, solicitor or copper, but I think this is the scenario, and all my opinion not fact of course.

Perhaps someone could also tell Tony that the peculiar image that he is using for his avatar was not commissioned by the McCanns as is implied here.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/607816/how-old-is-Madeleine-McCann-now-missing-look-like-teenager-13-years-old-update-2017

Re: A Question for Tony Bennett re the girl with the pony tail.

Post by Tony Bennett Today at 12:12

@Cmaryholmes wrote:
Forgive me, Tony if this has been addressed, but I was wondering about the picture you use on your profile of the young pony-tailed girl. Is this the latest age progression supposedly of Madeleine? If so, it is rather odd that it wasn't splashed all over the media throughout the 10th anniversary feeding frenzy? And it is a rather odd image!


Yes you are right on both counts:

1. Yes, this was yet another age-progressed image of Madeleine, commissioned for the 10th anniversary, and
2. Yes, it featured surprisingly rarely in all the frenzied media coverage of Madeleine's anniversary.

I thought the image looked very much like Kate McCann herself

I wouldn't worry about what TB is spouting over there. Nobody takes the slightest bit of notice of what he says anyway.

Well apart from a few people that could be named on one hand.

I actually think there's a Collin Sutton smear campaign going on Andrew and I think that's a very troubling development. For so long the only people in the British media who would speak out were B list celebrities. Now a credible, ex-Scotland Yard insider has spoken out and all they can do is try to undermine him, question his motives and generally cast doubt on his credibility. I know there's nothing we can do but it makes me really cross that they can treat him with such thinly veiled contempt. It's also schizophrenic because they've put his face on their banner. Totally incoherent IMO.

You are of course quite right, doc.

It doesn't surprise me in the slightest. As that's exactly what they do. Time and time again.

Investigative forum seeking the truth........... Don't make me laugh.

Andrew wrote:I wouldn't worry about what TB is spouting over there. Nobody takes the slightest bit of notice of what he says anyway.

Well apart from a few people that could be named on one hand.

or should we say... on one foot! (being socks)

Boring - why is nothing happening?

Helenmeg wrote:Boring - why is nothing happening?

Nothing APPEARS to be happening, but that is not to say that nothing IS happening - just that we're not being told.

A couple of months ago, both sides (I think, certainly SY) said that "both sides" were working well together. Given that the PJ have always considered the McCanns suspects, doesn't that imply that perhaps SY are moving in that direction also? Remember that SY's statement was embargoed until late evening - there must have been a reason for that. The statement added that a course of investigation was being followed by both sides, but that there would be no updates given.

The McCanns seem to have gone very quiet since before 3rd May.

The additional Home Office funding (85k) runs out in September.

I cannot see how they can justify throwing more money at it. And I genuinely don't think they will.

So I believe something significant will happen with the case before then. So not that long now. Which also could explain some of the shenanigans of late. A lot of panicking behind the scenes.

Or it could just trickle on for another decade.

The only two reasons I can see for extending the funding the way it has been are either the police are/were trying to find Madeleine's body or they are/were unravelling the fund. Either way, there must come a point where the investigation can go no further.

It's interesting that, as well as the McCanns being quiet since the anniversary and OG refusing to give a running commentary, Andy Redwood has remained silent since his retirement.

I agree with you Andrew that the recent nastiness is indicative of panicking behind the scenes so this could be the calm before the storm.

(Hopefully)

Poe wrote:The only two reasons I can see for extending the funding the way it has been are either the police are/were trying to find Madeleine's body or they are/were unravelling the fund. Either way, there must come a point where the investigation can go no further.

It's interesting that, as well as the McCanns being quiet since the anniversary and OG refusing to give a running commentary, Andy Redwood has remained silent since his retirement.

I agree with you Andrew that the recent nastiness is indicative of panicking behind the scenes so this could be the calm before the storm.

(Hopefully)

It does make sense: the TM support forum is going to close down - using us as the reason - and their posts will be deleted; and TB has supposedly moved location, so will not be traceable. Only problem for them is that Jill is traceable and through her so is Tony, if the Police wish for some help with their enquiries.

It won't be long now before we hear if OG is to close the case or if an extension has been applied for. What are people's thoughts with regards to the closure - will there be an outcry from people resulting in an enquiry or do people think it will just go away after a couple of weeks? I'm thinking that once OG close the case from this end Gonçalo Amaral will publish his first book in English followed by his second one.