Would an amnesty in the Madeleine case bring forth a conclusion?

[Alfie]

Nobody is goading you.   I gave you my opinion as a former professional, whether you accept it is entirely up to you.

So, as a former professional are you saying that all police operations such as Operation Grange normally divulge everything they have uncovered to the public as they go along?

[jassi]

Wow.  You'd give up looking for a missing child after a month.  Shocking.   Mind you the your thinking does seem to coincide with that of the PJ so...

That's not what I said, as well you know . I said a month without any fruitful leads. Such a case would remain open in case of further developments.

[Alfie]

Did anyone take her?

Who are you offering an amnesty to, and what is the wording of the reward you would offer?

[Alfie]

That's not what I said, as well you know . I said a month without any fruitful leads. Such a case would remain open in case of further developments.

But no one actively investigating?  A child goes missing in suspicious circumstances but without any clues to followyou'd expect the police to simply give up after a month.  That's what you're saying isn't it?

[jassi]

Children and adults go missing every day. I'm sure there aren't teams of detectives investigating each one for ever and a day.

[Alfie]

As it stands there appears little likelihood of this case being solved so anything which can bring closure for Madeleine's parents is to be welcomed.  If there was a third party involvement in the disappearance and she is dead then her parents deserve to know.  Anything which can resolve this situation should be pursued.

Scotland Yard are looking for someone to prosecute so that they can justify their existence. The reward being offered by them is confirmation of this.  No reward is on offer for Madeleine's return, I find that quite appalling.

As for an amnesty, that is a matter for the Portuguese authorities.

Bumping for John - highlighted above.  You DID say you would offer a reward for Madeleine's return, so once again I ask - if Madeleine is dead, what good is a reward for her return?

[Alfie]

Children and adults go missing every day. I'm sure there aren't teams of detectives investigating each one for ever and a day.

Do you consider the money spent on the investigations into the disappearances of Claudia Lawrence and Ben Needham to be a complete waste of money?

[Alfie]

A person disappears in suspicious circumstances but the perpetrator is thoughtless enough to leave behind no clues making it difficult to a) find the missing person and b) arrest and charge the perpetrator.  Should the police therefore after a month of fruitless investigating call it a day even if it means that the perpetrator is free to commit another crime?  Should that be the morally correct, expedient  course of action?

[ShiningInLuz]

But no one actively investigating?  A child goes missing in suspicious circumstances but without any clues to followyou'd expect the police to simply give up after a month.  That's what you're saying isn't it?

The alternative is to continue activity in the absence of clues to follow.

What activity should occur in the absence of clues to follow?

Should DCI Wall say to the team "I know you have no clues to follow, but just do something?"

There definitely is a point at which activity should cease and when resources should be deployed on other efforts.

[John]

So, as a former professional are you saying that all police operations such as Operation Grange normally divulge everything they have uncovered to the public as they go along?

Certainly not. Police divulge things when it is in their interest to do so. Redwood took it upon himself to reveal certain things through the BBC Crimewatch programme in the hope that someone would come forward with further information. The fact that nothing at all has been divulged since leads me to believe they have exhausted all their leads and are at a stalemate.  All forensic testing has ceased which means no progress on that front, another dead end.

[John]

Bumping for John - highlighted above.  You DID say you would offer a reward for Madeleine's return, so once again I ask - if Madeleine is dead, what good is a reward for her return?

Only a parent would know the answer to that one.

[Carana]

History has shown us that the police are the first to pat themselves on the back when they are successful but on this occasion their efforts can be described as an abject failure.  I really cannot point to anything they have uncovered which has brought any sort of closure to this case.

Just because there is no longer a constant poisonous drip feed of half-baked leaks doesn't mean that nothing has been achieved.

[Alfie]

Only a parent would know the answer to that one.

Would you care to expand on your answer?  You put up a reward for a child to be returned, but the reality is - that child is dead.  How is anyone going to claim the reward?   And how does this reward benefit the child, the reason ou earlier gave for putting up such a reward in the first place?

[Alfie]

Certainly not. Police divulge things when it is in their interest to do so. Redwood took it upon himself to reveal certain things through the BBC Crimewatch programme in the hope that someone would come forward with further information. The fact that nothing at all has been divulged since leads me to believe they have exhausted all their leads and are at a stalemate.  All forensic testing has ceased which means no progress on that front, another dead end.

Why?  There were years of investigation done in near silence before they revealed anything at all, same could apply now.  The fact is, you don't know so please don't pretend you do.

[Brietta]

Certainly not. Police divulge things when it is in their interest to do so. Redwood took it upon himself to reveal certain things through the BBC Crimewatch programme in the hope that someone would come forward with further information. The fact that nothing at all has been divulged since leads me to believe they have exhausted all their leads and are at a stalemate.  All forensic testing has ceased which means no progress on that front, another dead end.

The Crimewatch programme was broadcast on October 13th 2013. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24509614

The Portuguese investigation into Madeleine McCann's case was reopened on October 24th 2013. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24655826

Although not a joint operation, there was co-operation between both forces.  However it was made plain by the Portuguese that any information leaking from the inquiry would not be tolerated.

After initial leaks to a blogger who published the names of people to be interviewed as arguidos and persons of interest it has been a very tight run ship with no unauthorised information coming into the public domain from either the Portuguese or British investigations.

DCI Redwood spoke freely, perhaps when he could.

Quote
 However the Metropolitan Police’s Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowler today revealed that his counterparts in Portugal have warned that if media briefings are given on the investigation, the local officers working on behalf of Scotland Yard will stop working 'until that problem dissipates'.

In an open-letter dated today, Assistant Commissioner Rowley said he had explained the Metropolitan Police's practice of making public as much information as possible, but respects the Portuguese position.
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