Is the Met feeding misinformation to the public about Op Grange?

[Benice]

IMO they would have followed protocol in a missing child case and interviewed first the parents, then their friends followed by a few key British witnesses.
The Operation Grange team consist of hard nosed cynical detectives who weren't about to end up their careers with egg all over their faces ... if they had any doubts ... they would not have recommended reopening the case and they would not be following evidence in Portugal today.

IMO it is common sense to have worked that out.

I totally agree.  Also I believe that Andy Redwood and his colleagues (as professionals who are trained to observe)  would have wanted to meet the McCanns and their friends -  to make their own personal assessments of them - particulary with regard to their reliability/credibility/demeanour etc.   

I still find the fact that Amaral did not want to do the same to be completely incomprehensible.