so, the express newspaper explained today what the problem is and it aint no portuguese saying they wont cooperate or refusing to hand over anything blah blah and blah,as the papers have been printing all week, including the totally morally defunct right wing xenophobic irresponsible daily (hate) mail printing that the portuguese ag said *why should we help?* I wonder though what the headline here actually MEANS
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/414253/Red-tape-won-t-delay-hunt-for-Madeleine-say-McCannsRed tape won’t delay hunt for Madeleine say McCanns
THE parents of Madeleine McCann say they have “absolute faith” in the new investigation into their missing daughter despite reports the Europe-wide inquiry is already getting bogged down in red tape
By: Mark ReynoldsPublished: Fri, July 12, 2013
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Polive believe Madeleine may still be alive
Eight days after Scotland Yard announced that officers were moving from review stage of the case to a full-blown investigation, Kate and Gerry McCann remain hopeful of a breakthrough.
Their declaration came after it was revealed that a vital Letter of Request, which must be sent to the Portuguese authorities, has still not been delivered.
Without it, aspects of the investigation could be delayed due to lack of formal approval from the relevant authorities there.
Last night the Crown Prosecution Service, which is responsible for delivering the letter to the Portuguese judicial bodies, said its officials were still drawing up the complex legal document.
A CPS spokesman said: “Any legal communication between different jurisdictions requires extremely careful correspondence, including appropriate translations.
“We are liaising with the Portuguese authorities and will send the formal Letter of Request as soon as possible.”
The spokesman said police had fully consulted with the CPS before Scotland Yard went public with its announcement of a full-blown investigation last week.
Kate & Gerry McCann have expressed total support for the Scotland Yard investigation
It is a positive step in our hunt for Madeleine that our understanding of the evidence has enabled us to shift from review to investigation
DCI Andy Redwood
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police declined to comment.
But Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for the McCanns, said: “Kate and Gerry will not be giving a running commentary on every part of this process. But they have absolute faith in the work Scotland Yard are doing.”
Senior Met Police officers from Operation Grange, the inquiry into Madeleine’s disappearance, are aware of the technical and bureaucratic complexities which face them. But they also remain optimistic of making progress in the case.
They have told how they believe Madeleine may still be alive and urged the public to continue to help search for her.
Announcing the full-blown investigation, Det Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, head of Operation Grange, said: “It is a positive step in our hunt for Madeleine that our understanding of the evidence has enabled us to shift from review to investigation.”
He added: “We, and the Portuguese authorities, remain completely committed to finding out what happened to Madeleine, and everything we do is utterly focused on her best interests.
“We continue to believe that there is a possibility that Madeleine is alive.” Officers need all relevant documents correctly in place to ensure full co-operation between officials here and abroad, and to avoid bureaucratic hitches.
International criminal investigations in Europe are governed by two “mutual assistance” treaties, one dating back to 1959 and the other from 2000.
An age progressed photo of Maddy, as she is beleived to look on the approach to her ninth birthday
The conventions set out procedures for matters such as the exchange of legal papers, holding hearings by video-link, the control of undercover officers, phone taps and interception of email and other communications.
Police revealed they have identified 38 “persons of interest” so far – 12 of whom are British nationals who were in Portugal at the time Madeleine vanished, and are currently thought to be in Portugal or the UK.
The others on the list are believed to be in Portugal, the UK or three other unnamed European countries.
Madeleine – who would now be 10 years old – went missing from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on the Algarve on May 3, 2007.
The Portuguese investigation is officially closed but the authorities there are backing the new Scotland Yard inquiry. Officers from both countries will work together in pursuing fresh leads.
A team of 37 Met Police officers and staff are working on the case.
So far the team has gathered 30,500 documents and generated 3,800 “actions” they need to tackle.
They are about two-thirds of the way through their review and so far have been to Portugal 16 times.
Operation Grange was launched in May 2011 after the McCanns, both 45, and from Rothley, Leics, appealed directly to Prime Minister David Cameron for help from Scotland Yard.
