Telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/madeleinemccann/8510904/Scotland-Yard-brought-in-to-find-Madeleine-McCann.html


Officials in Portugal are understood to have granted permission for the Metropolitan Police to review their files for the first time.

Madeleine’s parents Kate, 43, and Gerry, 42, have renewed interest in their case this week with the release of a book on the topic and a series of related interviews.

On Thursday, on the occasion of her eighth birthday, they accused David Cameron, the Prime Minister, of lacking sufficient commitment to children.

Last night, a statement was issued saying Scotland Yard would “bring their expertise” to the search, after discussions between Mr Cameron; the Home Secretary, Theresa May; and Sir Paul Stephenson, the head of the Met.

However, few concrete details were available as to what form any Scotland Yard investigation might take.
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It is understood it will fall to a team under the control of Commander Simon Foy, one of the Met’s most senior officers and its head of homicide and serious crime.

His team has not been formed nor a budget set, sources said, but it is likely that officers will fly to Portugal for the investigation.

Madeleine, who lived with her parents in Rothley, Leicestershire, went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve in 2007.

The official Portuguese inquiry into Madeleine’s disappearance was formally suspended in July 2008, although private detectives employed by the McCanns continued the search.

Mr Cameron personally wrote to the McCanns to confirm the reopening of the investigation.

He described their ordeal as "every parent's worst nightmare and my heart goes out to you both".

He added: "I simply cannot imagine the pain you must have experienced over these four agonising years and the strength and determination you have both shown throughout is remarkable.

"I am acutely aware of the frustration you must feel as more time goes by and yet no news is forthcoming. That you have been so courageous over all this time and have not given up speaks volumes."

It is understood a lot of work has been going on behind the scenes between the British and Portuguese authorities but agreement was only reached in the last few days.

Portuguese police have repeatedly declined the Met’s offers of assistance in the past.

This will be the first official involvement of the Met although senior officers are thought to have advised Leicestershire Police, who have liaised with their Portuguese counterparts.

The development means Scotland Yard detectives will now have access to the files and documents allowing them to go through them in fine detail.
However, the Portuguese police will continue to be in charge of the case.

The McCanns welcomed the announcement and thanked Mr Cameron and Ms May for committing “such a significant resource” to “begin this review process”.

However, it does not yet represent the "independent, transparent and comprehensive review" which the couple had demanded from the Prime Minister. THEY'VE STILL GOT SOMETHING TO MOAN ABOUT THEN!!


A spokesman for the couple said: “It’s clearly a step in the right direction. The expertise of the Metropolitan police service is renowned and we are reassured by the Government’s commitment to the search for Madeleine.”

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: "We can confirm that the Metropolitan Police Service has agreed, at the request of the Home Secretary, to bring its particular expertise to the Madeleine McCann case.

"The Portuguese authorities retain the lead and we are not prepared to discuss it further at this time."

The reason the McCanns aren't satisfied is in these two sentences -

'However, the Portuguese police will continue to be in charge of the case.'

and

"The Portuguese authorities retain the lead and we are not prepared to discuss it further at this time."

They have been hoping all along that the case can be run by the British, but as has been said countless terms - that is never going to happen. They wanted a tame review by the British police, no doubt with the McCanns trying to tell the British police what to do. Unfortunately for them it's the Portuguese police who'll be talking to the British police and making the decisions about what information they divulge, what happens next, etc. Not at all what the McCanns wanted and that's why they're still in moaning mode.

Dimsie wrote:The reason the McCanns aren't satisfied is in these two sentences -

'However, the Portuguese police will continue to be in charge of the case.'

and

"The Portuguese authorities retain the lead and we are not prepared to discuss it further at this time."

They have been hoping all along that the case can be run by the British, but as has been said countless terms - that is never going to happen. They wanted a tame review by the British police, no doubt with the McCanns trying to tell the British police what to do. Unfortunately for them it's the Portuguese police who'll be talking to the British police and making the decisions about what information they divulge, what happens next, etc. Not at all what the McCanns wanted and that's why they're still in moaning mode.

Well Said Dimsie

Why are they not on every front page and tv show in the land today jumping for joy and shouting halleluja!
This is not what they wanted at all.
They wanted a peak at what the Portuguese have in their files but they are going to be seen by the people who really matter now
Did they really think any police force in any country would let previous suspects in a child disappearance case look through the files?
They are more stupid than I thought.
I think their 'friends' may talk now as they are all going to be hauled in otherwise.
I am sure the Met and Scotland yard will be able to access those phone records

Dimsie wrote:The reason the McCanns aren't satisfied is in these two sentences -

'However, the Portuguese police will continue to be in charge of the case.'

and

"The Portuguese authorities retain the lead and we are not prepared to discuss it further at this time."

They have been hoping all along that the case can be run by the British, but as has been said countless terms - that is never going to happen. They wanted a tame review by the British police, no doubt with the McCanns trying to tell the British police what to do. Unfortunately for them it's the Portuguese police who'll be talking to the British police and making the decisions about what information they divulge, what happens next, etc. Not at all what the McCanns wanted and that's why they're still in moaning mode.

Dimsie

I agree - I was getting slightly worried that the Mccanns may have friends in high places and certain other comments had suggested that even NSY may not be immune to the McCanns.

But I am very reassured with the last line - good post.

Sorry to be a bit tangential, but from another piece in the Telegraph, I thought the placement of images in the right hand "in News" section was interesting (red boxes mine!!)



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/madeleinemccann/8511093/Madeleine-McCann-text-of-parents-letter-to-David-Cameron.html