The McCanns became much better known than other parents, largely due to their own willingness to inform and engage with the media.
The situation Kate and Gerry found themselves facing in Portugal to disseminate information and to issue public appeals was far different to what happens when a child goes missing in Britain. Here the police take charge of everything acting as a barrier between media and relatives, in effect being press officers on their behalf.
I don't think I have seen any appeal for information in this country and most others which did not feature the attendance of uniformed police either making the appeal or in the background, supporting those who were.
Right from the initial stages and throughout an investigation a police presence appears to be an essential ingredient and even many years ago official press conferences were given by police supported relatives against a background of official local police badges.
Patrick Warren and David Spencer
Kate and Gerry did not receive that official police backup to publicise Madeleine and ask for public help. They had to do that for themselves. They had to put out publicity for Madeleine not against a backdrop featuring a police logo but one of the claim that they had called SKY NEWS before reporting Madeleine missing; and so their traducing began.