Why didn't the Mccann simply phone the European Emergency No 112

[John]

If I had been in their situation I wouldn't have gone down arguing with some sleepy receptionist, I would have dialled 112 immediately.  After all, that is what the emergency system is for.

When Matthew got the negative response at reception he should have taken matters into his own hands there and then and telephoned the police.

If they didn't know the telephone number for the emergency services all they had to do was to ask some of the locals.  Why didn't they?   8-)(--)

[AnneGuedes]

That's a very good question

I have to admit, though,  I disn't know about the 112 number   (  then again, I'm not a seasoned traveller )

Did you know your national emergency number ?

[icabodcrane]

Did you know your national emergency number ?

Yes, of course,   ... do you mean all they had to do was ask someone local ?

[John]

Yes, of course,   ... do you mean all they had to do was ask someone local ?

Yes, anyone.

[John]

It was just madness.   Their child is abducted at 10 o'clock at night and they sent someone down to reception in the dark to tell them?

[AnneGuedes]

Mobile phones can be used in countries with different emergency numbers. A traveller visiting a foreign country does not have to know the local emergency numbers, however. The mobile phone and the SIM card have a preprogrammed list of emergency numbers. When the user tries to set up a call using an emergency number known by a GSM or 3G phone, the special emergency call setup takes place. The actual number is not even transmitted into the network, but the network redirects the emergency call to the local emergency desk. Most GSM mobile phones can dial emergency calls even when the phone keyboard is locked, the phone is without a SIM card, or an emergency number is entered instead of the PIN.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_telephone_number


Most GSM mobile phones have 112, 999 and 911 as pre-programmed emergency numbers that are always available. The SIM card issued by the operator can contain additional country-specific emergency numbers that can be used even when roaming abroad. The GSM network can also update the list of well-known emergency numbers when the phone registers to it.

Using an emergency number recognized by a GSM phone like 112 instead of another emergency number may be advantageous, since GSM phones and networks give special priority to emergency calls. A phone dialing an emergency service number not recognized by it may refuse to roam onto another network, leading to trouble if there is no access to the home network. Dialing a known emergency number like 112 forces the phone to try the call with any available network.

On some networks a GSM phone without a SIM card may be used to make emergency calls and most GSM phones accept a larger list of emergency numbers without SIM card, such as 112, 911, 118, 119, 000, 110, 08, and 999. However, some GSM networks will not accept emergency calls from phones without a SIM card, or even require a SIM card that has credit.

[sadie]

The McCanns and their chums  were well travelled,  and therefore,  as John suggests,  likely to  have  been aware of the emergency number

We are VERY well travelled, certainly better travelled with all the years we have had travelling, than any of the tapas 8.  In fact probably better travelled than all of them put together

And we did not know the 112 number

[John]

So there wasn't really any excuse for not using their mobile telephone to summon help then Anne.  I wonder if any of them attempted it?

From what we have seen Matthew was down to reception twice, at the beach and up to the Millennium Restaurant on the top road yet he never thought to telephone the police directly or did he?

[John]

We are VERY well travelled, certainly better travelled with all the years we have had travelling, than any of the tapas 8.  In fact probably better travelled than all of them put together

And we did not know the 112 number

What would you have done Sadie if it had been your young child who had been taken?  Would you have sought out the emergency tel number?

[sadie]

If I had been in their situation I wouldn't have gone down arguing with some sleepy receptionist, I would have dialled 112 immediately.  After all, that is what the emergency system is for.

When Matthew got the negative response at reception he should have taken matters into his own hands there and then and telephoned the police.

If they didn't know the telephone number for the emergency services all they had to do was to ask some of the locals.  Why didn't they?   8-)(--)

Yep, dead easy in sleepy Praia de Luz !

[sadie]

What would you have done Sadie if it had been your young child who had been taken?  Would you have sought out the emergency tel number?

I would have sent someone straight to reception to call the police

Reception is where you go, John, in emergency ... unless you speak the lingo and know the number ... even then I would have sent someone to reception.

It wasn't to be expected that the receptioniist didn't act straight away.

[John]

I would have sent someone straight to reception to call the police

Reception is where you go, John, in emergency ... unless you speak the lingo and know the number ... even then I would have sent someone to reception.

It wasn't to be expected that the receptioniist didn't act straight away.

And when that person came back reporting that reception was less than helpful...what would you then do?

[sadie]

It was just madness.   Their child is abducted at 10 o'clock at night and they sent someone down to reception in the dark to tell them?

There are street lights, even down the pathways IIRC.  Not brilliant but enough for the job in hand.

[sadie]

And when that person came back reporting that reception was less than helpful...what would you then do?

IF, and it is a big IF, they came back and reported that, I would be flummoxed tbh.

I would be flummoxed and panicked from the word GO actually.

Your first born and obviously much loved child taken from her bed, I just wouldn't know what to do.  Would probably re-search all the places that had been searched umpteen times before



And I think it appalling that we are sitting here criticizing them.  Who are we to criticize?  And be judgemental?

[icabodcrane]

I would have sent someone straight to reception to call the police

Reception is where you go, John, in emergency ... unless you speak the lingo and know the number ... even then I would have sent someone to reception.

It wasn't to be expected that the receptioniist didn't act straight away.

It is quite clear from Matthew Oldfield's Rogatory interview that he  knew  that the  receptionist had not called the police at his request

So what did he do  ?   ...  go back and lie to Gerry  ?  ...  did he he say  "yeah, it's OK Ger,  they've rung the police" ?

Or did he say,  " They wouldn't ring the police Ger,  they said we need to search for her a bit first"  ?   (  which appears to be what actually happened )