Exploring the reasons and motivation behind Portuguese re-opening of the case.

[Sherlock Holmes]

They investigated bogus  'sightings'  by the thousand  ...  all over the world from Disneyland to Vietnam !

Bogus sightings that the McCanns'  'awareness campaign'  generated relentlessly,  and which may have acted as an overwhelming distraction to the job at hand

I agree that the 'awareness campaign' has been an exercise in bad judgement, however police work, as guided and dictated by law, established protocols, and as Carana and others remind us, continued academic research, is a separate matter.

[Sherlock Holmes]

And while police recordings are manual rather than recorded, justice is denied.

Very important points here, Enola and Carana.

One wonders along what lines these matters are being tackled under the current investigation in Portugal and if anything has changed materially since 2007.

[EnolaStraight]

Very important points here, Enola and Carana.

One wonders along what lines these matters are being tackled under the current investigation in Portugal and if anything has changed materially since 2007.

For people who believe that one should always answer police questions, there is an excellent video where a US law professor demonstrates why it is never in your interests to do so, and then is supported by a retired senior detective. Me, I would not answer any police questions until well lawyered up.

[EnolaStraight]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc

[Sherlock Holmes]

For people who believe that one should always answer police questions, there is an excellent video where a US law professor demonstrates why it is never in your interests to do so, and then is supported by a retired senior detective. Me, I would not answer any police questions until well lawyered up.

Yes, we have this on another thread, Enola. It is a fantastic piece.

Thanks for finding it.

[Sherlock Holmes]

And with regard to the general questioning and interrogation techniques used by the GNR and PJ, do we imagine these having been modified in any way since 2007. Carana's attached information seems to suggest otherwise, but I am just wondering if any of our members in Portugal or with knowledge of Portuguese MO has updated information.

[Estuarine]

And while police recordings are manual rather than recorded, justice is denied.

Interesting concept. Just when did it become mandatory to make recordings in UK. I am sure you can see which way this is going by extension....................

[EnolaStraight]

Interesting concept. Just when did it become mandatory to make recordings in UK. I am sure you can see which way this is going by extension....................

It became mandatory just before the number of fittings up and torture cases ( see West Midlands Serious Crime Squad) decreased considerably.

[Estuarine]

It became mandatory just before the number of fittings up and torture cases ( see West Midlands Serious Crime Squad) decreased considerably.

Yeah I was living in WMids at the time. WMSCS was disbanded late eighties as I recall. Their notorious case being the alleged pub bombers where statements were crudely changed and pocket books rigged. My point I think is:- are you suggesting that we had no justice at all before interviews were taped or that taping merely eliminated one place that could be open to abuse? Your post reads like you are suggesting the former.

[EnolaStraight]

Yeah I was living in WMids at the time. WMSCS was disbanded late eighties as I recall. Their notorious case being the alleged pub bombers where statements were crudely changed and pocket books rigged. My point I think is:- are you suggesting that we had no justice at all before interviews were taped or that taping merely eliminated one place that could be open to abuse? Your post reads like you are suggesting the former.

We exchanged loss of police ability to fit people up for a jury system that allowed two people to believe a person innocent, yet still convict them.

One step forward, one step back.

[Eleanor]

Yeah I was living in WMids at the time. WMSCS was disbanded late eighties as I recall. Their notorious case being the alleged pub bombers where statements were crudely changed and pocket books rigged. My point I think is:- are you suggesting that we had no justice at all before interviews were taped or that taping merely eliminated one place that could be open to abuse? Your post reads like you are suggesting the former.

I think the important point is that a Police Force with a long standing reputation for abuse was not forced to do this very much sooner.
One might even assume that they have deliberately avoided it.  Taping interviews is hardly rocket science.

It will be interesting to see their conviction rates when they do.

[Estuarine]

We exchanged loss of police ability to fit people up for a jury system that allowed two people to believe a person innocent, yet still convict them.

One step forward, one step back.

The majority verdict has been around since early 1970s. I served on a jury then and it ain't easy to have the judge accept a majority verdict. Our foreman was treated like a recruit who had just dropped his sabre on parade. As for one step forward one step back Gareth Peirce believes it is more like one step back. Anyway drifting off topic interesting though it maybe.

[Mr Gray]

Yeah I was living in WMids at the time. WMSCS was disbanded late eighties as I recall. Their notorious case being the alleged pub bombers where statements were crudely changed and pocket books rigged. My point I think is:- are you suggesting that we had no justice at all before interviews were taped or that taping merely eliminated one place that could be open to abuse? Your post reads like you are suggesting the former.

Did you go to school in the west mids

[EnolaStraight]

The majority verdict has been around since early 1970s. I served on a jury then and it ain't easy to have the judge accept a majority verdict. Our foreman was treated like a recruit who had just dropped his sabre on parade. As for one step forward one step back Gareth Peirce believes it is more like one step back. Anyway drifting off topic interesting though it maybe.

One step forward- recorded interviews, one step back- majority verdicts.

[Estuarine]

Did you go to school in the west mids

No