Scotland Yard ready to wind down Madeleine search/Theportugalnews

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Scotland Yard ready to wind down Madeleine search
by Brendan de Beer, in General · 30-08-2012 09:13:00 · 0 Comments

Scotland Yard detectives have admitted for the first time they might be ready to reduce their efforts in the search for Madeleine McCann.

Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has revealed that Scotland Yard is ready to wind down the search for Madeleine, who has been missing for over five years.
Reports over the weekend stated that Mr Hogan-Howe was looking for new commitments from UK Prime Minister David Cameron, indicating that British police could have reached the limit on how long they are willing to spend investigating the case.
“We are still reviewing a lot of material. It is a significant amount of money and we have quite a lot of officers tied up in this.
“There will be a point at which we and the Government will want to make a decision about what the likely outcome is.
“The Prime Minister agreed to fund this. We have not had any pressure to say you must stop spending more than x amount, we have received a lot of support. But by Christmas I would want a very clear view of what work is outstanding and what time line there is for that,” Mr Hogan-Howe was quoted as telling the London Evening Standard.
In April, Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood said Scotland Yard had “uncovered evidence during a review and believe Madeleine is still alive”.
The Attorney-General’s office in Lisbon has repeatedly said it would re-open the case “should new evidence emerge”, but no suggestions have emanated in the past five months suggesting a change in their view on the case.
The murder team within the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, led by Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood said in April that its year-long investigative review into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann had resulted in the emergence of new information.
Scotland Yard declined to disclose what evidence they had uncovered, but Redwood said he believed Madeleine had been abducted by a stranger.
The review team has cost British taxpayers in excess of £2 million and was created in the wake of calls by News Corporation titles The Sun and The Sunday Times on Prime Minister Cameron to order a review into the case – which he did soon afterwards in May 2011.
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has in the past expressed support of the team’s creation, dubbed Operation Grange, saying detectives “are in a unique position in that their task is to compile and review material from three separate strands - the Portuguese investigation, inquiries by UK law enforcement agencies, and the work of private investigators/agencies.”
The team of officers is said to be still in the process of methodically going through material which they believe amounts to around 40,000 pieces of information equating to approximately 100,000 pages.
The intention is to identify from investigative opportunities which they have reportedly been presenting to the Portuguese authorities.
“The objective of the review team is to work with the Portuguese authorities with a view to having the case, which has remained closed since 2008, re-opened in due course”, the MPS said.
“From the outset we have approached this review with a completely open mind, placing Madeleine McCann at the heart of everything we do. We are working on the basis of two possibilities here. One is that Madeleine is still alive; and the second that she is sadly dead”, said DCI Andy Redwood.
A review team was also set up in Portugal and the task of liaising with Scotland Yard was given to a team of detectives from the Polícia Judiciária (PJ) in Oporto.
The team of detectives is under the guidance of Helena Monteiro and it is believed they only started their review in February of this year.
The case was formally shelved in July 2008 by the Attorney-General’s office.
Madeleine McCann disappeared from Praia da Luz on 3 May 2007 from an apartment where she was sleeping with her younger twin brother and sister while her parents dined at a nearby restaurant.

Dead or alive, Madeleine was obviously taken from the McCanns apartment and if she wasn't taken out of the apartment by her parents, she was taken out by someone with the McCanns permission. I.H.M.O.

It will be interesting to see if the McCanns are exonerated, because if they are, we will probably see warnings issued on behalf of the McCanns, which say that "inappropriate" comments about them, will result in court action.

It beggers belief that the McCanns, who quite clearly are complicit in Madeleine's disappearance, can walk away scot free. Always assuming that the review reaches the conclusion in their favour.

It's looking like there will never be justice for Madeleine.

"We are working on the basis of two possibilities here. One is that Madeleine is still alive; and the second that she is sadly dead”, said DCI Andy Redwood"

Well that didn't take much working out did it Andy.

I really cannot understand why , with at least 35 SY Staff, it has taken so long to examine 100,000 pages. If the 5 Clerical Staff were doing the examining, what have the Police been doing all this time?

You don't 'wind down' an investigation if you think a child is alive and out there.

Kathy......they cant sue thousands off people....they will run out off money.

I think SY realise they have been sent on a wild goose chase and Hogan Howe is letting it be known publicly to embarass

Cameron , who now has to make a decision . Wouldn't you think since he was the one who instigated the Review that he would want regular reports on progress? Several Members of his own Party were against it and if it proves the money has been wasted , expect a new Conservative leader to be voted in before the next Election.

kitti wrote:Kathy......they cant sue thousands off people....they will run out off money.

Kitti

I know they can't sue thousands of people, but it won't stop threats being issued by their mouthpieces. Anyway for this to happen the McCanns have to be exonerated and even if the review is brought to a close, C.I. Andy Redwood, cannot truthfully exonerate the McCanns. Especially when S.Y. were the ones who advised the PJ to make the McCanns suspects, back in May 2007.

Also in July 2008, the assistant Chief Constable of the Leicestershire police said..."While one or both of them may be innocent, there is no clear evidence, that eliminates them from involvement in Madeleine's disappearance."

The Portuguese Authorities said the case would not be reopened, unless new evidence was found, which means that for the McCanns to be exonerated, evidence must have been found to show that Madeleine had been abducted, therefore the case will have to be reopened. I doubt very much if the PJ will exonerate the McCanns, even if Madeleine was abducted. The McCanns are involved with Madeleine's disappearance, even if it is indirectly, because if Madeleine was abducted, she was abducted while the McCanns were out of their apartment.

It will be interesting to see what will happen if the review is brought to a close, especially if the review is brought to a close, before the start of the McCanns lawsuit against Goncalo Amaral.

Good point about not winding down an investigation if they think Madeleine is out there alive and findable. So if all those policemen and millions of pounds didn't find Madeleine will the McCanns still go on with their efforts. I expect they will. But it does seem strange not to plough on with the review. That vital piece of evidence could be there in the files. It's really all very strange. I didn't envisage this winding down of the review before it was finished. That's a surprise. But on the other hand if they think nothing new will turn up is there any point spending millions more.

Panda wrote:"We are working on the basis of two possibilities here. One is that Madeleine is still alive; and the second that she is sadly dead”, said DCI Andy Redwood"

Well that didn't take much working out did it Andy.

That alive or dead statement has been misinterpreted by loads of people. I`m not a fan of the fellow but he did say that the review had been split up into two areas - one area working on the basis that she`s alive and the other on the basis she is dead. I would have thought that`s the obvious thing to do - at least he had one of the teams reviewing on the basis that she`s dead. Just saying.

Exactly. How would any of us do when (for whatever reason) obliged to go on National TV burdened by a brief instructing us not to say anything prejudicial?

Oldartform wrote:

Panda wrote:"We are working on the basis of two possibilities here. One is that Madeleine is still alive; and the second that she is sadly dead”, said DCI Andy Redwood"

Well that didn't take much working out did it Andy.

That alive or dead statement has been misinterpreted by loads of people. I`m not a fan of the fellow but he did say that the review had been split up into two areas - one area working on the basis that she`s alive and the other on the basis she is dead. I would have thought that`s the obvious thing to do - at least he had one of the teams reviewing on the basis that she`s dead. Just saying.

Hi Oldartform,

All along, the McCanns maintained abduction and there was no evidence that Madeleine was dead. It is very difficult to prove anything, if she really was abducted she could still be alive. If she is dead there is no proof because there is no body. Initially SY were asked to do a review because the McCanns maintained the PJ had closed the case too early and not checked out every possible lead. If the wading through 1000 pages of information , probably cross referencing, and nothing new shows up the exercise has been a waste of money . If I was Cameron I would meet with the McCanns and say he feels enough taxpayers money has been spent and if the McCanns want to contribute to any more investigating they will have to pay for the SY expenses.

The End Is Nigh wrote:Exactly. How would any of us do when (for whatever reason) obliged to go on National TV burdened by a brief instructing us not to say anything prejudicial?

Why go in front of the T.V. at all if that's the case. ? Redwood wasn't obliged to go, he could explain that he could say nothing about the review and decline the invite.

Panda wrote:

Oldartform wrote:

Panda wrote:"We are working on the basis of two possibilities here. One is that Madeleine is still alive; and the second that she is sadly dead”, said DCI Andy Redwood"

Well that didn't take much working out did it Andy.

That alive or dead statement has been misinterpreted by loads of people. I`m not a fan of the fellow but he did say that the review had been split up into two areas - one area working on the basis that she`s alive and the other on the basis she is dead. I would have thought that`s the obvious thing to do - at least he had one of the teams reviewing on the basis that she`s dead. Just saying.

Hi Oldartform,

All along, the McCanns maintained abduction and there was no evidence that Madeleine was dead. It is very difficult to prove anything, if she really was abducted she could still be alive. If she is dead there is no proof because there is no body. Initially SY were asked to do a review because the McCanns maintained the PJ had closed the case too early and not checked out every possible lead. If the wading through 1000 pages of information , probably cross referencing, and nothing new shows up the exercise has been a waste of money . If I was Cameron I would meet with the McCanns and say he feels enough taxpayers money has been spent and if the McCanns want to contribute to any more investigating they will have to pay for the SY expenses.

Yep I agree, but I could see the positive in him saying that part of his team were working on the basis Maddie was dead which must have worried the McCanns somewhat. It gave me hope that maybe they were giving credence to the dogs` findings.

kitti wrote:You don't 'wind down' an investigation if you think a child is alive and out there.

Great point kitti.

Which mans - thy know sh's not alive. So why are they not investigating her death? :(

Oldartform, the Portugese Prosecutor did ask a Judge whether there was enough evidence to go to trial and the Judge

said "show me the body." The McCanns from day 1 were obstructive, employed their own Detectives when Portugese law states that there cannot be a second investigation , had their own PR giving daily bulletins, hordes of photographers ,McCanns giving T.V. interviews etc, I think the Portugese Police were overwhelmed.Add to this the disgusting British Press comments about Amaral and the fact that the McCanns left three children unattended every night was overlooked and the word "abduction" used by the McCanns, not" kidnapped" and the stage was set.

The Court ruled against using the mobile phone calls being used as evidence so all in all the whole case was a pantomime. Like the Jon Benet case, this one will never be solved unless Madeleiene's body is found.

kitti wrote:Kathy......they cant sue thousands off people....they will run out off money.

And they will only sue people worth sueing who
can provide a return for their dosh, do that rules
me out.

maebee wrote:

kitti wrote:You don't 'wind down' an investigation if you think a child is alive and out there.

Great point kitti.

Which means - they know she's not alive. So why are they not investigating her death? :(

I expect that DCI Redwood will have to alter his initial statement that he believed that Madeleine was most likely abducted by a childless couple that wanted to raise her as their own. If he still truly believes this, then the investigation cannot be wound down. If, however, it is determined that Madeleine is most likely dead, then and only then should the case wind down, as was the investigation in Portugal.

Panda wrote:

The End Is Nigh wrote:Exactly. How would any of us do when (for whatever reason) obliged to go on National TV burdened by a brief instructing us not to say anything prejudicial?

Why go in front of the T.V. at all if that's the case. ? Redwood wasn't obliged to go, he could explain that he could say nothing about the review and decline the invite.

I very much doubt he had any choice in the matter.

Otherwise, I agree with you entirely.

I don't think he went there of his own volition.

Panda wrote:I think SY realise they have been sent on a wild goose chase and Hogan Howe is letting it be known publicly to embarass

Cameron , who now has to make a decision . Wouldn't you think since he was the one who instigated the Review that he would want regular reports on progress? Several Members of his own Party were against it and if it proves the money has been wasted , expect a new Conservative leader to be voted in before the next Election.

Yes Panda, it makes me wonder if he will make it to the next election? could this be the McCann "Karma"

The End Is Nigh wrote:

Panda wrote:

The End Is Nigh wrote:Exactly. How would any of us do when (for whatever reason) obliged to go on National TV burdened by a brief instructing us not to say anything prejudicial?

Why go in front of the T.V. at all if that's the case. ? Redwood wasn't obliged to go, he could explain that he could say nothing about the review and decline the invite.

I very much doubt he had any choice in the matter.

Otherwise, I agree with you entirely.

I don't think he went there of his own volition.

Morning TEIN......Well Redwood was certainly verbose and came across to me and many others as a bit of a dimwit, said

more than he should have , I even wrote to Theresa May '''''''''''got a polite reply from her Assistant .!!!!!

Lillyofthevalley wrote:

Panda wrote:I think SY realise they have been sent on a wild goose chase and Hogan Howe is letting it be known publicly to embarass

Cameron , who now has to make a decision . Wouldn't you think since he was the one who instigated the Review that he would want regular reports on progress? Several Members of his own Party were against it and if it proves the money has been wasted , expect a new Conservative leader to be voted in before the next Election.

Yes Panda, it makes me wonder if he will make it to the next election? could this be the McCann "Karma"

Morning LOTV...Karma? I would have said the kiss of death

Morning Panda

Unfortunately Boris will be the next leader of the Tories.