I believe the above is a policing principle which basically means before casting the net far and wide look at suspects close to home!
I've heard retired MET detective Colin Sutton refer to the above and it appears in books about policing such as the following:
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=JcKEDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=clearing+the+ground+beneath+your+feet+police&source=bl&ots=ki6RIfTgiZ&sig=ACfU3U0dFKax6YAYEhdQu_P1puVI8RqBSw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj47qyMjKPlAhXJNcAKHc9xCKsQ6AEwAHoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=clearing%20the%20ground%20beneath%20your%20feet%20police&f=falseThe above link homes in on:
1. Management of information
2. Prioritisation of leads
3. "Lack of grip" of the investigation
In this case I consider PF to be one of the most important witnesses in that she was completely independent of the McCanns/T7, lived at Waterside Gardens (WG) permanently, directly above apartment 5A, and had done so for 3/4 years and yet it appears she was not asked to provide a wit stat until 20th Aug 2007 at a time the case had already turned against the McCanns.
When PF did produce a wit stat it provided crucial information:
- Claims she heard MM crying and calling 'Daddy, daddy' from 10.30 pm - 11.45 pm on 1st May
- Claims in her opinion the above noise did not emanate from a child under the age of 2 (which would rule out AM/SM).
- Claims the above noise ceased when she heard the patio doors slide open (which can't be locked from outside)
- Claims she phoned a local friend, Edna Glyn, to discuss
- Claims she observed the McCanns walking around ie was familiar with the parents and ages of the 3 children
- When asked about the crying she claims she thought it was brought on by a destabilising factor and suggests a nightmare or a burglary on the basis she herself had been the victim of an attempted burglary a week or so prior to the McCanns arrival.
So in effect PF shared the above info with at least one other person. Who else did she share with? And who heard second, third hand etc and overheard?
This is extremely important imo as PF was unwittingly letting those who she told know the following:
- A child was home alone in 5A
- The patio door was unlocked
- The idea the crying may have been brought about by a burglary/attempted burglary
Scene of crime:
- Disappeared nearly 4 yoa child
- No signs of forced entry
- Raised shutter/open window
Imo MM was abducted by someone who gleaned all the intelligence from PF to carry out the low risk operation:
- MM was abducted as she was the child heard crying.
- Abductor slipped in via unlocked patio doors and exited back out patio doors or more likely front door if it can closed shut behind.
- Abductor staged shutter and window in an attempt to mislead PF and investigators into thinking it may have been connected to the recent attempted robbery at PF's apartment.
It's a great pity imo that PF was not interviewed further along with Edna Glyn.
