Does Portugal Have A Statute of Limitations?

[John]

The Ben Needham case has certainly opened dialogue. 

I am quite sure the parents of any missing child would want the matter resolved regardless of the outcome.  Ben disappeared 25 years ago and it has taken all that time to get to where we are today.  No doubt if similar events occur in Portugal we might see some progress in finding out what really happened to Madeleine McCann.

What is staggering though is the inability to offer some form of protection to anyone who wishes to come forward with information. That in itself is an utter disgrace!

[Alfie]

The Ben Needham case has certainly opened dialogue. 

I am quite sure the parents of any missing child would want the matter resolved regardless of the outcome.  Ben disappeared 25 years ago and it has taken all that time to get to where we are today.  No doubt if similar events occur in Portugal we might see some progress in finding out what really happened to Madeleine McCann.

What is staggering though is the inability to offer some form of protection to anyone who wishes to come forward with information. That in itself is an utter disgrace!

I'm bemused by your indignancy tbh.  Dont the police always say any information received will be treated in strictest confidence?  What sort of additional protection do you think should be offered?  Surely if someone has been deliberately witholding information then that should be treated as a criminal matter?

[Carana]

The Ben Needham case has certainly opened dialogue. 

I am quite sure the parents of any missing child would want the matter resolved regardless of the outcome.  Ben disappeared 25 years ago and it has taken all that time to get to where we are today.  No doubt if similar events occur in Portugal we might see some progress in finding out what really happened to Madeleine McCann.

What is staggering though is the inability to offer some form of protection to anyone who wishes to come forward with information. That in itself is an utter disgrace!

Protection / amnesty was what I was looking for in the PT code, John.

In theory, I can see a possibility for some who is simply a witness who didn't come forward, or possibly with an unrelated minor potential criminal hiccup.

However... how many of these people are likely to come forward if they have no idea that they could potentially benefit from protection?

[John]

I'm bemused by your indignancy tbh.  Dont the police always say any information received will be treated in strictest confidence?  What sort of additional protection do you think should be offered? Surely if someone has been deliberately witholding information then that should be treated as a criminal matter?

Depends on the information withheld and that applies to all involved.

As to your question of additional protection, that could only work in certain circumstances. I can't see a cold blooded killer being offered any deal but others around him could be.  Also in a case of accidental death, some form of amnesty could be provided. The important goal in all of this though is to bring closure for Madeleine's parents.

[John]

Protection / amnesty was what I was looking for in the PT code, John.

In theory, I can see a possibility for some who is simply a witness who didn't come forward, or possibly with an unrelated minor potential criminal hiccup.

However... how many of these people are likely to come forward if they have no idea that they could potentially benefit from protection?

That is why the Portuguese authorities should have gone out of their way to make it clear to anyone with crucial information that they will have some form of protection.  The way they have gone about it so far would scare anyone with information off for sure.

Looking back at what went on at the time of the disappearance with Jenny Murat however I don't hold out much hope on anything changing anytime soon on that front.  Joaquin Bloggs is scared and suspicious of the Portuguese police with good reason and that isn't going to change anytime soon.

[Alfie]

Depends on the information withheld and that applies to all involved.

As to your question of additional protection, that could only work in certain circumstances. I can't see a cold blooded killer being offered any deal but others around him could be.  Also in a case of accidental death, some form of amnesty could be provided. The important goal in all of this though is to bring closure for Madeleine's parents.

Of course we don't know exactly what information individuals may have passed on to the police.  Someone may already have named the culprit or culprits  but the police have been unable to find sufficient evidence to support the accusation, we just don't know.