Met bill soars but not a single arrest - The Sun

Front page of Wednesday's Sun - "Met bill soars but not a single arrest" and "11 million pound on Maddie hunt ... and still no clue". This "news" is a result of The Sun's "investigation".

Sorry, I can only see the front page; can't get access to the article.

Still no clue ... the Maddie hunt has cost £11m PA
A FORMER Flying Squad chief yesterday urged Scotland Yard to consider winding down its hunt for Madeleine McCann — adding: “You can’t keep chasing shadows.”

John O’Connor said the spiralling cost of the four-year investigation and the seeming lack of progress meant the Met must now ask itself whether resources should be focused elsewhere.

He added: “If there are no firm leads, and by that I mean no substantial operational things like active surveillance on suspects, then I’d have thought they should be considering winding it down now.”

His comments come as a Sun investigation today reveals the Met’s inquiry into Madeleine’s disappearance from the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz in May 2007 has cost taxpayers almost £11million.

At the current rate it will top £12million by April — more than double the £5million promised by David Cameron when Operation Grange was launched in May 2011.

The task force, which at its height was 37 strong, has yet to make a single arrest.

Tens of thousands of pounds have been spent on flights to Portugal and to investigate other sightings around the globe.

Mr O’Connor added: “You can’t keep chasing shadows. Chasing sightings all over the world. It depends on whether the detectives are making any real progress. For me it needs to be reviewed by a senior officer.

Missing ... Madeleine in 2007
Missing ... Madeleine in 2007 PA

“The Met’s rank and file would be thinking, ‘Are there more recent cases that could be progressed with the right resources?’ It’s about priorities.”

The initial Portuguese investigation into three-year-old Madeleine’s abduction was marred by blunders.

Officers made the catastrophic mistake of deciding parents Kate and Gerry were the key suspects — and so failed to take elementary steps to secure evidence that might have caught the real abductors.

They failed to seal off the family’s apartment, allowing the crime scene to become hopelessly contaminated.

They also failed to put out a global missing persons report for five days and did not bother to set up checkpoints in and around the Algarve.

In July 2008 the Portuguese authorities admitted there was no evidence against Kate and Gerry and said the unsolved case was to be closed.

Then in May 2011, following a campaign by Kate and Gerry that was backed by The Sun, the PM told Scotland Yard to launch its own investigation, called Operation Grange.

It cost around £2million in its first year. By 2013 that had risen to £4.8million — then £7.4million in April 2014.

Campaign ... Gerry and Kate
Campaign ... Gerry and Kate AFP/Getty

The figure stood at £9.8million in April and is now thought to have reached £10.8million. It is projected to hit £12.2million by April 2016.

In 2014 alone Met staff took 67 return flights to Portugal at a cost of £16,000. The bulk of the rest of Grange’s costs come from salaries, overtime and premises expenses.

There are currently 30 police and support staff working on the hunt for Madeleine, who would now be 12. The inquiry is headed by Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Wall.

In March the soaring costs and lack or progress prompted Met Police Federation chairman John Tully to question whether the investigation should continue. He said: “We no longer have the resources to conduct specialist inquiries all over the world which have nothing to do with London.

“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.”

A source close to the McCanns said yesterday: “Kate and Gerry are eternally grateful to the Metropolitan Police for making Operation Grange possible.

“They are pleased so many officers are still looking for Madeleine.”

There are currently 155 children on the Missing Kids UK website, including Madeleine. Research shows an average of £2,415 is spent investigating a missing child.

tom.wells@the-sun.co.uk




‘I know what happened to Maddie’



2011

— McCann plea to PM

— Met off to Algarve

New hope ... Yard heads inquiry
New hope ... Yard heads inquiry Martin Keene/PA

MAY 3: Fourth anniversary of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance.

MAY 12: The Sun publishes open letter from Kate and Gerry asking the PM for independent inquiry. The next day Mr Cameron promises “new action” involving the Metropolitan Police.

SEPTEMBER 9: Scotland Yard detectives hold first meetings with police chiefs in Portugal.

NOVEMBER: Met officers fly to Barcelona to meet Spanish cops as part of their probe.




2012

— Poster of their girl ‘at 9’

— Portugal rules out probe

How our girl might look ... Kate and Gerry with picture
How our girl might look ... Kate and Gerry with picture EPA/Facundo Arrizabalaga

APRIL 25: Police release computer-generated image of what Madeleine would look like five years after she vanished, aged nearly nine. The picture features prominently in a new poster appeal launched by Kate and Gerry.

APRIL 26: Portuguese attorney general rules out reopening their own investigation into the kidnapping, saying there is no new evidence to justify it.




2013

— 41 new leads

— Suspect’s e-fit

Is this the kidnapper? ... e-fit of suspect
Is this the kidnapper? ... e-fit of suspect Metropolitan Police/PA Wire

MAY: Met team says it has identified a number of possible suspects. It is later revealed there are 41.

OCTOBER: A BBC Crimewatch appeal shows an e-fit of a man seen at Praia da Luz carrying a blonde-haired child aged three or four.




2014

— Dogs in scrub

— 4 men quizzed

Grim task ... UK search team arrives
Grim task ... UK search team arrives

MAY: Search specialists from the Met arrive in Praia da Luz.

JUNE: Sniffer dogs and radar used to examine scrubland at resort.

JULY: Officers interview four Portuguese suspects, including one man of Russian origin.




2015

— £16k for jets

— £12m by April

Back at start ... McCann apartment
Back at start ... McCann apartment

FEBRUARY: Police confirm Operation Grange team spent £16,000 on 67 return flights to Portugal in 2014.

SEPTEMBER: Estimated total cost of Grange now stands at £10.8million. If 2015/16 costs are similar to previous years, total cost of Grange by April 2016 is predicted to be £12.2million.


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Picked up in the Mail now!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3219114/Bill-Scotland-Yard-investigation-Madeleine-McCann-disappearance-hits-11MILLION-no-arrests-former-police-chief-calls-end.html#comments

So, a 're-cap', Brooks is 'back', (News UK), (did she ever go 'away'?). Within 'days' the Scum (News UK) have front page 'Madeleine' story, (first 'story' for ages). Cameron, 'country suppers' with Brooks, off to meet Portuguese PM on Friday, THIS week, to 'discuss' erm, 'things'.

Madeleine 'case', £11 million, still NO 'clue' found, after 4 YEARS 3 months, 'solely dedicated' investigation by the UK's 'finest' police force, the MET.

So, bumbling, bungling, incompetent 'imbeciles' (P Mc) dosen't, it seems, pertain, exclusively, to be the 'preserve' of only 'bloody foreigner' police forces?

I 'hope' the PJ 'shelve' their second investigation, and release their 'files', so we can all see, the 'co-operation, or NOT' of the taxpayer funded, £11 million, OG 'investigation' with the PJ.

'There are two SEPERATE 'lines' of 'inquiry' the PJ have theirs and we have, seperately, ours' MET 'commissioner' BHH.

TWO DIFFERENT 'lines' of inquiry into ONE 'abduction'?

Thanks to "fred" for posting the Sun article and also to others who posted the links to the other papers.

I have to agree with the comment posted on the DM site: "Most expensive farce in British history".

After months of "nothing" we are now learning of the two PMs meeting, the call for the end to the search, prior to Mr. Amaral's appeal, and let's not forget the launch of Mitchell's PR firm.

The "search" - that would be the one the parents took no part in because their priority was settine up the "fighting fund"; and while the Portuguese police wanted answers to questions from the mother, she refused to co-operate.

The whole SY "investigation" has been a farce to protect the parents and/or the higher ups somehow involved in the "disappearance" of Madeleine.

The Leicester Mercury contacted the McCanns' "spokesman" to ask if he had anything to offer on their behalf; so far they have not received a reply from Clarence Mitchell.

I dare say he has not replied because he is behind the publication of the latest "news". Give him another day or two and he will keep the "story" alive.

WOULD BE CHEAPER IF PARENTS LOOKED AFTER THEIR CHILDREN IN THE FIRST PLACE,IF YOU ARE CYNICAL

This farce is a disgusting waste of public money, quite beyond belief that it is allowed to be carried on.

I HAVE JUST REMEMBERED SOMEONE ON MY DAYCENTRE BUS MENTIONED IT,SOMEONE SAID BEING DOCTORS THEY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER.

I just knew Mitchell would chime in. According to the Mirror (20:06 September 2) "Madeleine McCann's parents ready to continue search if police end investigation into her disappearance". According to Mitchell, "In a common sense and practical move, they have kept some money back from the Find Madeleine Fund in case it is needed for an ongoing search."

Common sense is not something I associate the McCanns with having. Common sense is looking for your daughter immediately after she was discovered "missing" regardless of the darkness and cold weather; but of course the parents knew she would not be found. In fact common sense would also dictate you do not leave three children along to fend for themselves while you are out enjoying yourselves because it was your holiday too.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/madeleine-mccanns-parents-ready-continue-6370581?ICID=FB_mirror_main

From the article:

He told how former GP Kate and heart doctor Gerry, both 37, of Rothley, Leics, had moved money from the publicly-backed Find Maddie Fund into a special account in anticipation of having to finance the hunt for their daughter themselves.

Mr Mitchell said: “In a common sense and practical move, they have kept some money back from the Find Madeleine Fund in case it is needed for an ongoing search.”




Why would they have to move money from the fund which was set up for the search to a 'special account'?

Strange thing to say, something's up imo

I hope some astute person is following the money trail of the McCanns ("both 37"). The Mirror seems to think the McCanns are de-aging. Does the press EVER get anything right.

interested wrote:I hope some astute person is following the money trail of the McCanns ("both 37").  The Mirror seems to think the McCanns are de-aging.  Does the press EVER get anything right.

Second thought after reading the article again - Why the need to set up a "special account" to continue the search. I thought that the "search" was supposed to be reason for setting up the Find Madeleine Fund in the first place. Definitely 'creative accounting' going on - capitalizing on loopholes in accounting standards.

interested wrote:

interested wrote:I hope some astute person is following the money trail of the McCanns ("both 37").  The Mirror seems to think the McCanns are de-aging.  Does the press EVER get anything right.

Second thought after reading the article again - Why the need to set up a "special account" to continue the search.  I thought that the "search" was supposed to be reason for setting up the Find Madeleine Fund in the first place.  Definitely 'creative accounting' going on - capitalizing on loopholes in accounting standards.

That's exactly what I think, interested

Any connection between money being shifted and the acceptance of Amaral's appeal?...just wondering...

interested wrote:Any connection between money being shifted and the acceptance of Amaral's appeal?...just wondering...

You are not the only one to think that, interested. The Portugal resident wonders if this fact is not the reason of the recent Maddy media recent rebirth:

http://portugalresident.com/rush-of-uk-%E2%80%9Cmaddie%E2%80%9D-stories-precedes-british-pm%E2%80%99s-visit-to-portugal-tomorrow


"Posted by portugalpress on September 03, 2015
Rush of UK “Maddie” stories precedes British PM’s visit to Portugal tomorrow

Quite what is behind the sudden rush of Maddie stories in the UK media this week is unclear, but one aspect is certain, the buzz has come as UK prime minister David Cameron heads back to Portugal, for a meeting with Passos Coelho in São Bento tomorrow.

Billed officially as a conversation to discuss European affairs of mutual interest, it had barely been announced last week than mainstream media in UK launched into this new Maddie frenzy.
Suggesting the €15 million Operation Grange probe into the toddler’s disappearance was due to be shelved after four fruitless years (click here), it then lurched into protestations that this could not be further from the truth and on to new “shock horrors” today, alleging that Grange detectives “spent £200 a night at 5-star hotels” on their fact-finding visits to Portugal.

The bulk of the stories seem to have been coming from the pro-Tory Sun, though they have been followed up, almost in synchronisation, by rival tabloids the Mirror and Daily Mail.

On the basis that there is no smoke without fire, Portuguese media has joined the fray, with national tabloid Correio da Manha reminding readers that it was David Cameron who “responded to a direct appeal from the parents of Madeleine McCann” to set up the hugely expensive Grange inquiry in the first place.

With a spokesman for the McCann parents reportedly saying Kate and Gerry accept Grange “could not last forever” but will continue searching for their daughter, whatever happens, it is difficult to understand where all this renewed media excitement is leading.

Certainly, the Portuguese inquiry - run out of Porto - shows no signs of closure, with national director of the PJ Pedro do Carmo telling the Resident last week that the investigation remains “dynamic” and that the unit is still working closely with British counterparts.

Thus eyes are on tomorrow, when Cameron, under fire over Britain’s stand against fleeing migrants, is due in Lisbon for those talks of “mutual interest”.

UPDATE: As this story went up, a small announcement on the Projecto Justiça Gonçalo Amaral blogsite gives another clue to the sudden media razzmatazz. Could it have been to hide the announcement that Gonçalo Amaral's appeal against the record amount of damages awarded against him in the civil case taken out by the McCanns has finally been accepted by Lisbon's Appellate Court?

The low-key announcement simply thanks "everyone who has made a contribution".

As the news went out, the gofundme appeal - set up by a British single mother to raise money for Amaral's legal costs - has raised £38,205 (almost €52,500), with multiple people apparently contributing on a regular basis.

The latest contributor, Peter Mac, has just posted: "The mystery of the sudden flurry of stupid "Grange is / is not going to be wound down" stories in the tabloids is exposed. News about the Appeal going ahead has been neatly kept out of any of the British press".

natasha.donn@algarveresident.com

Tags:

   Maddie stories British PM’s visit to Portugal David Cameron

"Media Razzmatazz" indeed after a summer of virtually nothing. Waiting to see if the UK media report that the appeal has been accepted.....appeal(?) what appeal...probably not. The McCanns (and Mitchell) had to be aware the appeal is "on" and that accounts for the rash of recent reports...the search is off...the search is still on... and of course the "special fund". I think Mitchell is the author of his own misfortune by bringing up the "special fund"; it raises questions about the purpose of the original Find Madeleine Fund. At least it would raise questions for me if I had been taken in by the McCanns' marketing ploys.

Perhaps Mitchell 'sees' 1/2 a £mill heading his way, from the 'special' fund, to 'keep 'em front page news', ala Tim Bell at Bell Pottinger.

New article in the Daily Mail - "Portuguese police reveal British investigation into disappearance of Madelein McCann is still live after Scotland Yard makes fresh request for information" "British officers wrote to Portuguese in July making an unknown request" "Portuguese source says it proves investigation is 'very much alive'. The article is dated September 4, and was updated at 19:04 GMT.

How many more requests for information can there possibly be? What possible information have they not got by now after all these years.? They must keep shuffling paper around their desks time and time again. Is it that they want to make sure they still have a job, trying to look busy busy?

fuzeta wrote:How many more requests for information can there possibly be?  What possible  information have they not got by now after all these years.? They must keep shuffling paper around their desks time and time again.  Is it that they want to make sure they still have a job, trying to look busy busy?

Busy 'bizzies'!

"Ben Needham's mum blasts police over 11 million pounds spent on hunt for Madeleine McCann" (Sept.8 Daily Star) "It seems unfair when other missing children aren't getting as much attention." "She claims at the time of his disappearance nobody from the British Embassy met her and no UK cops were flown to the Greek island".

I notice that on many of the comments regarding "immigrant/asylum seeker" articles there are many bringing up the waste of money re the McCann case.

mara thon wrote:I notice that on many of the comments regarding "immigrant/asylum seeker" articles there are many bringing up the waste of money re the McCann case.

According to the BBC (on line): "Met Police consider scrapping 1,000 neighbourhood PCSOs" "The Met is considering scrapping all Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) working in neighbourhoods in London.......".

I would imagine there will be more people questioning the "waste of money re the McCann case" in the wake of financial pressures.