Portugal helps Scotland Yard. Algarve Resident 11-10-13

http://www.algarveresident.com/0-55509/algarve/portugal-helps-scotland-yard

Portugal helps Scotland Yard. Algarve Resident 11-10-13

Algarve Resident

Portugal helps Scotland Yard

Updated: 11-Oct-2013

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Portuguese PJ criminal police have formed a team of six detectives from its Faro division to work alongside the Scotland Yard police force in charge of Operation Grange, which is aimed at examining all the evidence related to the Madeleine McCann disappearance case.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said that the first round of judicial obstacles had been overcome and that the investigation was on track.

Rowley revealed that there were signs of “increasing co-operation” from the authorities in Portugal and that six “professional and committed” senior Faro detectives were appointed to work on the case with the British officers.

Rowley said it was a “good and professional” relationship and it was hoped that in the near future a small group of Scotland Yard detectives would be allowed to base themselves in the Algarve.

The team of Faro detectives has been given permission to interview suspects, take statements and conduct their own inquiries, although the Portuguese authorities have refused to reopen their own investigation.

Portugal was one of the 31 countries that received a letter of request asking for the co-operation of the national authorities concerning data about people of interest or phone records.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, the official in charge of Scotland Yard’s inquiry, said officers were investigating a “substantial amount of data” from mobile phones believed to belong to people who were in the resort of Praia de Luz before, during and after Madeleine’s disappearance.

So far, 41 suspects have been identified, among which are a number of Portuguese.

“It’s a targeted attack on that data to see if it helps us find out what happened to Madeleine McCann at that time,” Redwood declared.

Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, will be appearing on BBC’s Crimewatch programme on October 14 to make an appeal for help in light of “fresh and substantive” information uncovered by the Scotland Yard inquiry.

New sighting

Meanwhile, the Sunday Mirror newspaper carried a front page exclusive story on October 6 in which a barrister claimed that a man boasted to him that he had seen Madeleine just a few weeks ago.

The barrister told the Mirror he was in conversation with the man at a party and was “stunned” when the man confessed he had met the girl on a Mediterranean island.

The lawyer, who was not named, said: “I can’t tell you exactly why I believe what I was being told. It was just a gut feeling.”

He said he was convinced that the confession was genuine, despite many other people coming forward with unconfirmed sightings and false leads since she disappeared, and said he was able to be “a bit more specific than just the island” but unable to tell police the exact location on the island.

“I am now terrified that she has been moved elsewhere,” he told the newspaper.

The confession was made at a party in the north west of England in August and the lawyer gave a full statement to his local force, Greater Manchester Police, the following day.

Officers are taking the information seriously and are set to prepare a file for the Operation Grange team.

The informant is being treated as a credible witness because of his profession as a barrister and a pillar of the community, and he has been in contact with detectives within the last few days as they act on his crucial statement.

Kate and Gerry McCann were said to be “greatly encouraged” by the new evidence.

Madeleine McCann, aged three at the time of her disappearance, went missing around six years ago while she was sleeping at a tourist complex in Praia da Luz where she was staying with her family

so the sighting hasn't led to Madeleine being found, or anyone being questioned further. Oh Lord I laughed forgive me. Good to know that the Portuguese police are working with Scotland Yard, although the investigation hasn't been officially reopened. shame really that the UK didn't co operate with the Portuguese when they were asked.