Claims the Portuguese are dragging their heels in the search for Madeleine.

[Eleanor]

Good, so no dragging heels then.

No, I don't think so.  Any more than I thought UK was.

[Brietta]

If you believe a reconstruction was so important that it could have actually solved the case -  then surely that highlights the incompetence of the original PJ team IYO - for not immediately carrying out such a crucial and obvious 'diligence' as a matter of urgency at the time ?

 

It would have been so much more sensible to have carried out the reconstruction (except it wasn't a reconstruction ... reconstitution which apparently is something entirely different) when there might actually have been something to be learned from it.

(Some) holidaymakers and residents would have been available.

MW employees who had a locus would have been available.

Mrs Fenn would have been alive.

The McCann party would have been available.

The Smith family would have been available.

It does seem however that Dr Amaral had no problem "reconstructing/ reconstituting" events for his TV documentary ... then that was a commercial venture where money was to be made; not a diligence which might have led to solving the case of a missing little child.

[pegasus]

Remind me: when the T9 were first interviewed by the PJ before the T9 returned home was there any evidence they had been beaten and tortured? So if they hadn't been why fear it would happen on a return visit?

But there was physical and mental torture - the evil "failure to offer a cup of tea" technique used at Portimão on the 4th.
 

[Brietta]

There are many examples of a mindset among the Portuguese investigators that there was no avenue worth pursuing other than the guilt of her parents. 

I think it is evident that not only did they drag their heels, I think it is obvious that they ignored viable investigative options which may have pointed away from that thesis. 
It is particularly disturbing that information provided by Interpol which they thought might assist in solving Madeleine's case was ignored.

Yet this incompetence has been rewarded by the unshakeable belief in the content of the interim report which was totally superceded by the final report which totally exonerated the Drs McCann.

** snipped**
Swiss police officers were immediately struck by the physical similarities between Ylenia and Madeleine, who had both gone missing within weeks of each other.

They alerted Interpol which, in turn, contacted the Portuguese authorities about its suspicions on August 17.
When it did not get a response, it contacted them again on September 3.

Again, there was no response, we were informed by sources  in Interpol.

We now know why.

Just four days later, on September 7, Kate and Gerry McCann were named as arguidos in the Portuguese investigation.

On September 11, police submitted a summary of their case against them to prosecutors.

In his report, Chief Inspector Tavares da Almeida concluded — without a shred of hard evidence — that Madeleine had died in the flat, her parents had hid the body, then faked an abduction and got their friends to lie to the police.

‘Kate McCann and Gerald McCann are involved in the concealment of the cadaver of their daughter Madeleine McCann,’ he wrote.

Could a police officer have made a more catastrophic misjudgement?

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2330660/Madeleine-McCann-Was-Maddie-snatched-monster-killed-little-lookalike-British-detectives-uncover-dramatic-new-lead--Portuguese-refusing-investigate.html#ixzz3MkOsqKSy

[DCI]

There are many examples of a mindset among the Portuguese investigators that there was no avenue worth pursuing other than the guilt of her parents. 

I think it is evident that not only did they drag their heels, I think it is obvious that they ignored viable investigative options which may have pointed away from that thesis. 
It is particularly disturbing that information provided by Interpol which they thought might assist in solving Madeleine's case was ignored.

Yet this incompetence has been rewarded by the unshakeable belief in the content of the interim report which was totally superceded by the final report which totally exonerated the Drs McCann.

** snipped**
Swiss police officers were immediately struck by the physical similarities between Ylenia and Madeleine, who had both gone missing within weeks of each other.

They alerted Interpol which, in turn, contacted the Portuguese authorities about its suspicions on August 17.
When it did not get a response, it contacted them again on September 3.

Again, there was no response, we were informed by sources  in Interpol.

We now know why.

Just four days later, on September 7, Kate and Gerry McCann were named as arguidos in the Portuguese investigation.

On September 11, police submitted a summary of their case against them to prosecutors.

In his report, Chief Inspector Tavares da Almeida concluded — without a shred of hard evidence — that Madeleine had died in the flat, her parents had hid the body, then faked an abduction and got their friends to lie to the police.

‘Kate McCann and Gerald McCann are involved in the concealment of the cadaver of their daughter Madeleine McCann,’ he wrote.

Could a police officer have made a more catastrophic misjudgement?

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2330660/Madeleine-McCann-Was-Maddie-snatched-monster-killed-little-lookalike-British-detectives-uncover-dramatic-new-lead--Portuguese-refusing-investigate.html#ixzz3MkOsqKSy

So Almeida actually put that in a report to the prosecutor.
Paiva filling his "not relevant box", and sightings being ignored. What the hell is going on with this case.
Something is not right, and it doesn't take Einstein to guess what!! What they so scared of.

[Benice]

There are many examples of a mindset among the Portuguese investigators that there was no avenue worth pursuing other than the guilt of her parents. 

I think it is evident that not only did they drag their heels, I think it is obvious that they ignored viable investigative options which may have pointed away from that thesis. 
It is particularly disturbing that information provided by Interpol which they thought might assist in solving Madeleine's case was ignored.

Yet this incompetence has been rewarded by the unshakeable belief in the content of the interim report which was totally superceded by the final report which totally exonerated the Drs McCann.

** snipped**
Swiss police officers were immediately struck by the physical similarities between Ylenia and Madeleine, who had both gone missing within weeks of each other.

They alerted Interpol which, in turn, contacted the Portuguese authorities about its suspicions on August 17.
When it did not get a response, it contacted them again on September 3.

Again, there was no response, we were informed by sources  in Interpol.

We now know why.

Just four days later, on September 7, Kate and Gerry McCann were named as arguidos in the Portuguese investigation.

On September 11, police submitted a summary of their case against them to prosecutors.

In his report, Chief Inspector Tavares da Almeida concluded — without a shred of hard evidence — that Madeleine had died in the flat, her parents had hid the body, then faked an abduction and got their friends to lie to the police.

‘Kate McCann and Gerald McCann are involved in the concealment of the cadaver of their daughter Madeleine McCann,’ he wrote.

Could a police officer have made a more catastrophic misjudgement?

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2330660/Madeleine-McCann-Was-Maddie-snatched-monster-killed-little-lookalike-British-detectives-uncover-dramatic-new-lead--Portuguese-refusing-investigate.html#ixzz3MkOsqKSy

In view of the world wide interest in this case I think Amaral just wanted to get  a result - a conviction - regardless of who was actually guilty of this crime.

IMO His easy successful conviction in his previous (and only other missing child case)  led him to believe he could duplicate that success in the McCann case - and that is what he set out to do.      Unfortunately for him despite his efforts -which included the promotion of a similar  'trial by media' as in the LC case,  he was eventually  thwarted by the fact that Kate McCann was British and the UK police presence prevented him from achieving that goal.        Hence his critical comments regarding the UK police to a reporter - which led to his removal from the case  IMO.     He was annoyed because the UK police expected proper police work and not the kind he was used to employing.  For instance - there is no way in this country that the whole direction of a case would be changed because of a dream.

Because of Amaral's own personal attitude and his own situation (he was now an arguido re the torture of LC)  Madeleine became the last of his concerns.     How he himself 'looked' to the world was far more important to him than she ever was IMO.

His spiteful revengeful book is also proof of that.

[slartibartfast]

In view of the world wide interest in this case I think Amaral just wanted to get  a result - a conviction - regardless of who was actually guilty of this crime.

The same could be said for SY.

[John]

The Portuguese could very well be actively engaged in delaying tactics.  A SY breakthrough in this case would do little for the PJ's reputation regardless of the final outcome.  No doubt they will be hoping that SY gives up and that they go on to solve the case on their own.

[Montclair]

The Portuguese could very well be actively engaged in delaying tactics.  A SY breakthrough in this case would do little for the PJ's reputation regardless of the final outcome.  No doubt they will be hoping that SY gives up and that they go on to solve the case on their own.

The judges decide on the measures to be taken to ensure that they are in compliance with the law.

[Brietta]

The Portuguese could very well be actively engaged in delaying tactics.  A SY breakthrough in this case would do little for the PJ's reputation regardless of the final outcome.  No doubt they will be hoping that SY gives up and that they go on to solve the case on their own.

I think they would be content to see SY giving up on Madeleine, as would some others.

I do not think it would open the door for them to solve the case and claim sole credit ... I think they would just shut it down completely once more.

[Eleanor]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if The PJ are grateful for the lessons they are learning in modern day policing and detection.  The modern day policing in The PJ is a very recent thing in so far as I have seen.

[faithlilly]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if The PJ are grateful for the lessons they are learning in modern day policing and detection.  The modern day policing in The PJ is a very recent thing in so far as I have seen.

How very jingoistic of you Eleanor.

[Carana]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if The PJ are grateful for the lessons they are learning in modern day policing and detection.  The modern day policing in The PJ is a very recent thing in so far as I have seen.

I don't think that the PT authorities are "dragging their feet" - they have a complicated bureaucratic system with few resources.

We may have a tendency to forget that Portugal is a relatively young democracy and change takes time. They started with a Constitution and judicial codes that are constantly being refined (although some aspects of the procedural codes seem to be an attempt to deal with an overwhelming backlog).

You can't suddenly fire the entire PJ "old guard" or those who have progressed through the ranks under their patronage without creating an internal rumpus, particularly if you don't have the resources to inspire and train the upcoming generation.

Even back in Amaral's day, I found João Carlos to be a decent cop (a few mistakes, but none of us were in his shoes at that chaotic time). There are probably quite a few others who worked very hard and whose names haven't attracted any attention. 

I found the post-Amaral era's PJ reports to be a fair analysis of the status at the time.

I doubt that UK / PT cooperation has only been one-way. There have probably been lessons about best practices in difficult circumstances learned by both.

[Brietta]

I don't think that the PT authorities are "dragging their feet" - they have a complicated bureaucratic system with few resources.

We may have a tendency to forget that Portugal is a relatively young democracy and change takes time. They started with a Constitution and judicial codes that are constantly being refined (although some aspects of the procedural codes seem to be an attempt to deal with an overwhelming backlog).

You can't suddenly fire the entire PJ "old guard" or those who have progressed through the ranks under their patronage without creating an internal rumpus, particularly if you don't have the resources to inspire and train the upcoming generation.

Even back in Amaral's day, I found João Carlos to be a decent cop (a few mistakes, but none of us were in his shoes at that chaotic time). There are probably quite a few others who worked very hard and whose names haven't attracted any attention. 

I found the post-Amaral era's PJ reports to be a fair analysis of the status at the time.

I doubt that UK / PT cooperation has only been one-way. There have probably been lessons about best practices in difficult circumstances learned by both.

As usual a very thoughtful informative post.

The transition from dictatorship to democracy can't have been easy ... I've just looked up Salazar to find out he was in power from 1932 - 1968. 
Wow! that is some period of time for all the institutions in a country to be under the influence of one political ideology.  That alone would justify the need for a shake up.

I think your assessment that the PJ and SY will be on a learning curve and picking up ideas on best practice from each other is a sound one. 

IMO their co-operative working is one of the positives coming out of the present investigation.

I imagine there will be a lot of networking going on which will be beneficial in all sorts of cases in the future.

I know there are a lot of small minds around who can't see any further than the last FOI request about the costs who are incapable of appreciating that a lot of barriers will be getting demolished as the officers of both countries learn more about each others' professional practice.

Having said that, I feel that there have been frustrating delays (DNA requests ... searches) and in the interests of expediency I cannot understand why the bureaucracy cannot have been relaxed and cut to a minimum; maybe it was for all we know.

[slartibartfast]

As usual a very thoughtful informative post.

The transition from dictatorship to democracy can't have been easy ... I've just looked up Salazar to find out he was in power from 1932 - 1968. 
Wow! that is some period of time for all the institutions in a country to be under the influence of one political ideology.  That alone would justify the need for a shake up.

I think your assessment that the PJ and SY will be on a learning curve and picking up ideas on best practice from each other is a sound one. 

IMO their co-operative working is one of the positives coming out of the present investigation.

I imagine there will be a lot of networking going on which will be beneficial in all sorts of cases in the future.

I know there are a lot of small minds around who can't see any further than the last FOI request about the costs who are incapable of appreciating that a lot of barriers will be getting demolished as the officers of both countries learn more about each others' professional practice.

Having said that, I feel that there have been frustrating delays (DNA requests ... searches) and in the interests of expediency I cannot understand why the bureaucracy cannot have been relaxed and cut to a minimum; maybe it was for all we know.

Yes the PT requests to the UK that were rejected delayed things a lot.