Scotland Yard about to commence digs in and around Praia da Luz.

[icabodcrane]

McCanns still don't believe Madeleine is dead.  And SY.. even if they had to dig it doesn't mean their only theory is that Madeleine is dead. Maybe just one of the theories they have to investigate further.

BTW these digs should have been done back in 2007..

I don't think the Metropolitan Police are digging up Praia de Luz randomly

There must be some intelligence that has led them to these particular sites   ...  if there were not, then the Portuguese   Judge would surely have disallowed the digs

[Martina]

McCanns still don't believe Madeleine is dead.  And SY.. even if they had to dig it doesn't mean their only theory is that Madeleine is dead. Maybe just one of the theories they have to investigate further.

No police force on this world would spend loads of money and go through a hassle of obtaining the permits to dig a private land only to check a theory.

[VIXTE]

No police force on this world would spend loads of money and go through a hassle of obtaining the permits to dig a private land only to check a theory.

A police force usually has an planned task... this this this and this has to be done in every investigation. Digging of disturbed ground is a part of it.. system of elimination..

It is like when you go to the doctors. To establish what is wrong with you they first check you for the worst test.. and by doing this they eliminate certain suspicions.

[Martina]

A police force usually has an planned task... this this this and this has to be done in every investigation. Digging of disturbed ground is a part of it.. system of elimination..

Sorry, it doesn't work like that. Especially not when the heavy equipment is required, the plot is private and lies in a foreign country. It's costly and no court will give a permission for that without some evidence shoving the necessity to dig just there.

[pegasus]

Even if all SY's working theories are incorrect, their sensible action of deploying ground radar and cadaver dog at the land literally just over the road (R 1 Maio) and only 100 metres from the apartment may still find something.
From the apartment it is the closest unused hidden land.

[Carana]

Metropolitan police assistant commissioner Mark Rowley said earlier this month that the operation in Praia da Luz did not amount to a significant breakthrough – describing it as the "routine slog" of an ongoing investigation. He said there were many fruitful lines of inquiry being explored but conceded: "We may go through every line of inquiry and all of them draw a blank."
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/may/28/madeleine-mccann-portugal-uk-police-search-next-week

[Carana]

Sorry, it doesn't work like that. Especially not when the heavy equipment is required, the plot is private and lies in a foreign country. It's costly and no court will give a permission for that without some evidence shoving the necessity to dig just there.

Why not? Comprehensive forensic checks should have been done in the first place as a ground-clearing exercise, shouldn't they?

Whatever is found or not found, it may advance the investigation by an inch, although seven years later may be a bit late.

[jassi]

Why not? Comprehensive forensic checks should have been done in the first place as a ground-clearing exercise, shouldn't they?

Whatever is found or not found, it may advance the investigation by an inch, although seven years later may be a bit late.

I can't see the Portuguese Court agreeing to SY's wishes without there being strong supportive evidence to justify such a dig.

[Victoria]

I can't see the Portuguese Court agreeing to SY's wishes without there being strong supportive evidence to justify such a dig.

What kind of evidence?

[jassi]

What kind of evidence?

Reliable information pointing to where things of interest might be buried ?

Who knows, but quite sure SY will have needed  strong justification to persuade the Court. At least one of the sites seems to be  still under consideration.

[Victoria]

Reliable information pointing to where things of interest might be buried ?

Who knows, but quite sure SY will have needed  strong justification to persuade the Court. At least one of the sites seems to be  still under consideration.

So, no real idea then. More of a 'gut feeling'.

[jassi]

So, no real idea then. More of a 'gut feeling'.

I don't do 'gut feelings'

It is clear from what the Portuguese Courts appear to  have refused in the past, that they require good justification for granting SY requests.

If you don't wish to accept that, then fine - no problem to me.

[Victoria]

The dig is expected to start Monday, according to the Guardian.

Interesting times....

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/may/28/madeleine-mccann-portugal-uk-police-search-next-week

It's not a 'dig'. It's entirely possible that no digging takes place at all.

[Mr Gray]

Reliable information pointing to where things of interest might be buried ?

Who knows, but quite sure SY will have needed  strong justification to persuade the Court. At least one of the sites seems to be  still under consideration.

from what I have read this is basic routine police work that may yield nothing and that SY do not have specific information that something may be found.

[jassi]

from what I have read this is basic routine police work that may yield nothing and that SY do not have specific information that something may be found.

Indeed it may not, but it will be interesting to see what emerges.