Madeleine McCann: Top officer pledges that hunt for missing girl will continue apace

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Met Police Commissioner, reacted angrily to concerns raised by the Police Federation about the millions devoted to the case

The search for Madeleine McCann is “moving on a pace” and will not end until all avenues are exhausted, Britain’s top police officer said today.

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, reacted angrily to concerns raised by the Police Federation about the millions of pounds of public money devoted to the case.

He said: “It’s not for them to decide which investigation we carry out, it’s my decision. This investigation is funded by the government and the only thing that will decide whether or not it continues are the chances of success in finding that girl.

"It’s really for me and not a [Police] Federation issue.”

Portuguese prosecutor Ines Sequeira said she was determined to crack the case when she took it over last October, bringing fresh hope to Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry.



Sir Bernard said of the investigation: “It’s moving on apace at the moment in terms of the relationship with the Portuguese and that is to be welcomed. As long as there’s a basis for doing the investigation we will continue.”

He said the Prime Minister David Cameron and Home Secretary Teresa May support the investigation.

Madeleine was just three when she went missing from her family’s Algarve holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on May 3 2007 as Kate and Gerry, sat at a nearby tapas restaurant with friends.

Portuguese police closed their investigation in 2008 but the Metropolitan Police launched their own inquiry, codenamed Operation Grange, three years later.

Sir Bernard was responding to concerns raised by John Tully, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, who said in March: “It’s time to re-focus on what we need to do to keep London safe.

"We no longer have the resources to conduct specialist inquiries all over the world which have nothing to do with London.

“The Met has long been seen as the last resort for investigations others have struggled with elsewhere. It is surprising to see an inquiry like the McCann investigation ring-fenced. I’ve heard a few rumblings of discontent about it from lots of sources."

He added: “When the force is facing a spike in murder investigations, it’s not surprising there is resentment of significant resources diverted to a case that has no apparent connection to London.”

Operation Grange has cost almost £8million. More than £100,000 has been spent on the transport of British authorities to and from Portugal. The money comes from a special Home Office fund.

Hope: Maddie's parents have been reassured that search will continue

Poe wrote:Oh but you missed a bit of the article:

Hope: Maddie's parents have been reassured that search will continue

Maddie's parent's look well reassured in that photo, don't they? Yep, that's a reassured couple if ever I saw one.

Hope: Maddie's parents have been reassured that search will continue

Resistor wrote:

Hope: Maddie's parents have been reassured that search will continue

Maybe they are worried that the "search" might actually find something.

"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."

PeterMac wrote:Like the man who prayed for a d*** that reached the ground.
The Archangel Gabriel appeared, and cut his legs off at the knee !

Even if, hypothetically, one could admit that Gerald and Kate McCann might be responsible over the child's death, it would still have to be explained how, where through, when, with what means, with the help of whom and where to they freed themselves of her body within the restricted time frame that would have been available to them to do so. Their daily routine, until the 3rd of May, had been circumscribed to the narrow borders of the 'Ocean Club' resort and to the beach that lies next to it, unknowing the surrounding terrain and, apart from the English friends that were with them on holiday there, they had no known friends or contacts in Portugal.” (...)

caricature wrote:Not sure where to put this,but have read the judgement again McCanns V Amaral,page 13.

Even if, hypothetically, one could admit that Gerald and Kate McCann might be responsible over the child's death, it would still have to be explained how, where through, when, with what means, with the help of whom and where to they freed themselves of her body within the restricted time frame that would have been available to them to do so. Their daily routine, until the 3rd of May, had been circumscribed to the narrow borders of the 'Ocean Club' resort and to the beach that lies next to it, unknowing the surrounding terrain and, apart from the English friends that were with them on holiday there, they had no known friends or contacts in Portugal.” (...)

If as BHH,says its going to continue,does trying to find the evidence for the above come into play.

Seicento wrote:

caricature wrote:Not sure where to put this,but have read the judgement again McCanns V Amaral,page 13.

Even if, hypothetically, one could admit that Gerald and Kate McCann might be responsible over the child's death, it would still have to be explained how, where through, when, with what means, with the help of whom and where to they freed themselves of her body within the restricted time frame that would have been available to them to do so. Their daily routine, until the 3rd of May, had been circumscribed to the narrow borders of the 'Ocean Club' resort and to the beach that lies next to it, unknowing the surrounding terrain and, apart from the English friends that were with them on holiday there, they had no known friends or contacts in Portugal.” (...)

If as BHH,says its going to continue,does trying to find the evidence for the above come into play.

So did they or didn't they go to Sagres then?

15. The criminal investigation was put to an end by the Procurador da Republica (who lead the investigation) in the archiving dispatch dated 21.07.08 - Courtesy of Astro who translated the first part of the so-called AG Report :

"Taking into account that there were certain points in the arguidos' and witnesses' statements that revealed, apparently at least, contradiction or that lacked physical confirmation, it was decided to carry out the "reconstruction of the fact", a diligence that is consecrated in article 150 of the Penal Process Code in the sense of duly clarifying, on the very location of the facts, the following very important details, among others:

1 – The physical, real and effective proximity between Jane Tanner, Gerald McCann and Jeremy Wilkins, at the moment when the first person walked by them, and which coincided with the sighting of the supposed suspect, carrying a child. It results, in our perspective, strange that neither Gerald McCann nor Jeremy Wilkins saw her, or the alleged abductor, despite the exiguity of the space and the peacefulness of the area;

caricature wrote:Not sure where to put this,but have read the judgement again McCanns V Amaral,page 13.

Even if, hypothetically, one could admit that Gerald and Kate McCann might be responsible over the child's death, it would still have to be explained how, where through, when, with what means, with the help of whom and where to they freed themselves of her body within the restricted time frame that would have been available to them to do so. Their daily routine, until the 3rd of May, had been circumscribed to the narrow borders of the 'Ocean Club' resort and to the beach that lies next to it, unknowing the surrounding terrain and, apart from the English friends that were with them on holiday there, they had no known friends or contacts in Portugal.” (...)

If as BHH,says its going to continue,does trying to find the evidence for the above come into play.