Ex Met Cop says case must be solved to stop it happening again

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/7367714/madeleine-mccann-missing-case-must-be-solved-met-police-detective/



'WE NEED TO CATCH THEM' Madeleine McCann case must be solved to stop it happening again, ex Met detective tells Good Morning Britain


Maddie McCann went missing more than a decade ago while on a family holiday in Portugal, with almost £12m poured into the Met Police investigation to find her



By Brittany Vonow


28th September 2018, 8:12 am
Updated: 28th September 2018, 8:17 am

MADELEINE McCann's disappearance must be solved to stop it from happening again, a former Met detective has warned.

The little girl disappeared more than a decade ago, with almost £12million funnelled into the Scotland Yard investigation.

But former counter-terror detective David Videcette warned every lead into the little girl's disappearance needed to be investigated, whatever the cost.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, the seasoned cop warned: "If she had been abducted, then we need to catch whoever did that because it will happen again.

"However much money we spend on this case, we'll save on the next case if we catch that person and that's where we need to look at."

Mr Videcette added that the success of an investigation could not be based on the cost - adding: "Good investigations take time."

The debate comes after it was revealed Met Police had applied to the Home Office for another round of funding to continue their investigations into Maddie's disappearance.

Madeleine was three, nearly four, when she went missing from her family's holiday flat in Portugal on May 3, 2007.



Her parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, had left her sleeping with her siblings while they had dinner at the hotel's restaurant - only realising about 10pm that she was gone.

Since then, there have been reported sightings of the youngster, who would be aged 15 now, across the world.



Mr Videcette pointed out the investigation had not been handed an "open chequebook", saying police would always be justifying what the money would be spent on.

But founding member of Scotland Yard's undercover unit Peter Bleksley argued: "There has to be a point where they say 'you know what we have to put this file in the too difficult tray because quite frankly we are unable to solve it'.

"How much more money has to be ploughed into this, are there still live investigate threads that are going to potentially lead to some kind of resolution 11 years on."

He added: "At some stage, this has to stop."


How Maddie may have looked when she was aged nine
Reuters


7

How Maddie may have looked when she was aged nine

The debate sparked a reaction online, with many agreeing with Mr Videcette's logic that the perpetrators needed to be caught.

One wrote: "Finally someone talking sense regarding the investigation costs for the Maddie McCann case... ‘the offender needs to be stopped, they will do it again’ thank you David I totally agreed with everything you said."

But another added: "They're still not one iota further forward than they were the day she disappeared. There is no justification for continuing with this investigation."

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We have received and are considering a request to extend funding for Operation Grange until the end of March 2019."


The spokesperson added: "Special Grant funding is usually available to police forces when they face significant or exceptional costs.

"The cost of Operation Grange – which, to date, is £11.6m – has been met through Special Grant funding.”

"We Need to Stop Them"...."to stop it happening again". It sounds like he thinks the McCann might do the same thing again.

At least someone talking sense.....


https://www.9news.com.au/2018/10/08/14/25/madeleine-mccann-alive-held-captive-david-edgar-theory-no-evidence-former-editor-claims


There is "no evidence" to support a theory missing girl Madeleine McCann is alive and living with her abductor in Portugal, according to a former leading UK newspaper editor.

Last week a retired UK detective claimed Maddie, who would now be 15 years old, was probably still somewhere in Portugal, and could even remain held captive in the small Algarve coastal town where she vanished more than 11 years ago.

Ex-cop David Edgar told British tabloid The Sun how he believed Maddie may not even be aware that she has been the subject of a massive worldwide search which began in May 2007.

But the recently retired editor of The Sunday Express, Martin Townsend, today described Edgar as being "wedded" to that theory since being hired by the McCanns in 2008.

Appearing on Channel Nine's TODAY, Townsend was asked if there was any evidence which backed up Edgar's belief. "No, none whatsoever," he replied.

"It is a theory that David Edgar, this detective, has actually expounded before. He is absolutely wedded to it," Townsend added.


FOLLOW: Mark Saunokonoko on Twitter

© Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2018