Sir Paul Stephenson: Falling murder rate allowed Maddy investigation to proceed

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8539559/Sir-Paul-Stephenson-Falling-murder-rate-allowed-Maddy-investigation-to-proceed.html

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan police yesterday revealed that he decided to take on the Madeleine McCann investigation because London’s falling murder rate meant that he had detectives spare.

Sir Paul said that Scotland Yard's experience and expertise meant that they were the perfect force to lead a review into the Portuguese investigation in Madeleine's disappearance Photo: APBy Mark Hughes, Crime Correspondent 6:51PM BST 26 May 2011
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Sir Paul Stephenson has previously denied that Scotland Yard was forced to investigate the case by the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary.

The Commissioner has stressed that he made the decision and there was no political interference from David Cameron.

Yesterday, under questioning from Metropolitan Police Authority members, he detailed his reasoning for taking on the investigation.

Sir Paul said that one of the reasons is the number of murders in London – which has fallen to 124 in 2011 from 172 per year in 2006.

He explained that it meant there is now no need for 24 murder teams across the capital and the number will be reduced in the next nine months, leaving experienced detectives free to take on the McCann case.

To be honest, I simply don't care what machinations took place to get SY on the job - the mere fact that it is happening is cause for celebration. And I assume that is a sentiment shared by pro, anti and fence-sitter alike?

Interesting it is experts in murder who will be investigating.

I suppose so - but I've not seen much from any point of view which suggests that the key crime is murder.


If I recall correctly, the most common thoughts revolve around (In no particular order):

Neglect

Manslaughter

Accidental Death

The Administration Of Narcotics To Minors (Which could entail the Procurement and Supply of Controlled Drugs)

(Abduction - the least likely, yet much vaunted option)





Friends, please add to the list any I've forgotten.

And yet-

Sir Paul said that one of the reasons is the number of murders in London – which has fallen to 124 in 2011 from 172 per year in 2006.

He explained that it meant there is now no need for 24 murder teams across the capital
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Murder is the crime being investigated here - whatever "outs" the PJ gave the McCanns in terms of getting them to confess to hiding a child's accidental death - they are putting murder investigators onto this.

Eddy and Keela - good dogs.

Good dogs.

This makes it sound like the Met have got teams of detectives hanging around with nothing to do. I thought the police were constantly complaining that they were overworked and undermanned? However, if there are so many free detectives, why aren't they put to work investigating other unsolved missing people cases, such as Ben Needham? If there are so many of them then why throw them all at the McCanns?

The likelihood of conviction?

jejune wrote:This makes it sound like the Met have got teams of detectives hanging around with nothing to do. I thought the police were constantly complaining that they were overworked and undermanned? However, if there are so many free detectives, why aren't they put to work investigating other unsolved missing people cases, such as Ben Needham? If there are so many of them then why throw them all at the McCanns?

Now I am getting a bit jittery about this - I originally thought - ah! cut backs and this may have been instead of redundancies, not sure now. Has the crime rate fallen. I seem to hear continually of people being killed in London and surrounding areas.

Still I am prepared just wait and see whether the stone gathers some moss.