The Smithman e-fits - are the McCanns less than happy with them?

[Alice Purjorick]

A quick look at the Metropolitan Police website and Operation Grange will reveal that all the previous information has been taken down.  If one didn't know any better, one could be forgiven for thinking the case has been solved.

Poor Madeleine, I suppose it was only a matter of time.

http://content.met.police.uk/Article/Operation-Grange/1400005508791/35434

The O.G. website cupboard is a bit Mother Hubbardsville isn't it?
Website being updated? Case solved?, case about to be closed with no result?
Fait vos jeux.

[DCI]

A quick look at the Metropolitan Police website and Operation Grange will reveal that all the previous information has been taken down.  If one didn't know any better, one could be forgiven for thinking the case has been solved.

Poor Madeleine, I suppose it was only a matter of time.

http://content.met.police.uk/Article/Operation-Grange/1400005508791/35434

Perhaps you should have taken a slower look, John.

http://content.met.police.uk/News/Portuguese-authorities-reopen-investigation-into-Madeleine-McCann/1400020769305/1257246745756

http://content.met.police.uk/News/Detectives-believe-there-is-a-possibility-that-Madeleine-McCann-is-still-alive/1400008147005/1257246745756

http://content.met.police.uk/Article/Operation-Grange/1400005508791/35434

[Carana]

The facts as previously reported speak for themselves.

It is more likely that the entire operation has been scaled down to reflect increasing public annoyance at the vast sums of money being spent on wild goose chases.

I find it likely that there are fewer wild-goose chases now that the case is less of a tabloid keyword milk cow.

Some people may also be assuming that the money spent only concerns the search for Madeleine, without considering the potential side benefits of improving international police cooperation, gaining a better understanding of international legal issues, sharing best practice and cross-referencing potential connections with other cases.

[John]

Perhaps you should have taken a slower look, John.

http://content.met.police.uk/News/Portuguese-authorities-reopen-investigation-into-Madeleine-McCann/1400020769305/1257246745756

http://content.met.police.uk/News/Detectives-believe-there-is-a-possibility-that-Madeleine-McCann-is-still-alive/1400008147005/1257246745756

http://content.met.police.uk/Article/Operation-Grange/1400005508791/35434

Thanks DCI but I already took note of the two remaining articles you linked to.  All the e-fit information relating to persons of interest have been removed.  My comment stands, one could be forgiven for thinking the case is dead as far as SY is concerned!

[Alfred R Jones]

There are other videos on their FB page, mainly of the couple McCann whining outside the court in Lisbon, which play directly from the home page and not via a non-description button which is easily missed. Why wasn't if not all at least part of the CW video put on their page in the same way ?

You tell me Faithlilly - I'm sure you feel you know the answer so let's hear it.

[Alfred R Jones]

A quick look at the Metropolitan Police website and Operation Grange will reveal that all the previous information has been taken down.  If one didn't know any better, one could be forgiven for thinking the case has been solved.

Poor Madeleine, I suppose it was only a matter of time.

http://content.met.police.uk/Article/Operation-Grange/1400005508791/35434

So, the fact that Smithman doesn't appear on the Met or Operation Grange websites tells you what exactly?  Is it possible that he is no longer considered a viable lead?  Are there instances where police have issued an e-fit only to hold a press conference years later to say "we're no longer looking for this bloke"?

[John]

So, the fact that Smithman doesn't appear on the Met or Operation Grange websites tells you what exactly?  Is it possible that he is no longer considered a viable lead?  Are there instances where police have issued an e-fit only to hold a press conference years later to say "we're no longer looking for this bloke"?

Not just Smithman but every other one as well.  Looks like a case of, 'will the last man out please extinguish the light'.  It is very revealing that the British press haven't received anything out of SY for weeks and then a story about rehashed resources.  It is all beginning to make sense at last.

[Alice Purjorick]

I've always been a bit of an optimist and to me at the moment ~ no news is good news ~ I have confidence that as long as there is viable evidence to be followed it will be followed. 

Mainly because at the end of the day someone is going to have to put their name to it whenever the end of the trail has been reached and no-one will be queuing up to be that person if there is any chance that in the future he/she will be revealed as having acted with undue haste.

Pretty much off topic but:
My view is that O.G will be scaled down to one man and a dog. It is difficult to see how the present level of resources can be justified the budget will be the ruling factor in the final analysis. I wouldn't call cutting right back acting in haste after 4 years of O.G would you?  I don't believe the case will be closed but that is a different matter. The case of Diane Jones (now that is an interesting case) is not closed but I doubt it has any officers working on it full time.

[mercury]

Comes full circle, the mccanns had the efits, they didn't publish them, therefore suppressed ,hidden, didn't publish all mean the same thing ie they were not happy or interested to do so, is there any more to say? maybe they  were happy to NOT publish them...was there anyone stopping them?

Goodnight Anna

[sadie]

Comes full circle, the mccanns had the efits, they didn't publish them, therefore suppressed ,hidden, didn't publish all mean the same thing ie they were not happy or interested to do so, is there any more to say? maybe they  were happy to NOT publish them...was there anyone stopping them?

Goodnight Anna

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I seem to remember that the PJ had the Efits too.  And they didn't publish them either.

[G-Unit]

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I seem to remember that the PJ had the Efits too.  And they didn't publish them either.

Only according to the MSM, unconfirmed.

[Brietta]

Only according to the MSM, unconfirmed.

Oh it didn't form part of the apology printed by the Times ?  Silly me, thinking I had read it there.

The Sunday Times Published: 28 December 2013
In articles dated October 27 ("Madeleine clues hidden for 5 years" and "Investigators had E-Fits five years ago", News) we referred to efits which were included in a report prepared by private investigators for the McCanns and the Fund in 2008. We accept that the articles may have been understood to suggest that the McCanns had withheld information from the authorities. This was not the case. We now understand and accept that the efits had been provided to the Portuguese and Leicestershire police by October 2009.
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/comment/regulars/corrections/article1357081.ece

[G-Unit]

Oh it didn't form part of the apology printed by the Times ?  Silly me, thinking I had read it there.

The Sunday Times Published: 28 December 2013
In articles dated October 27 ("Madeleine clues hidden for 5 years" and "Investigators had E-Fits five years ago", News) we referred to efits which were included in a report prepared by private investigators for the McCanns and the Fund in 2008. We accept that the articles may have been understood to suggest that the McCanns had withheld information from the authorities. This was not the case. We now understand and accept that the efits had been provided to the Portuguese and Leicestershire police by October 2009.
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/comment/regulars/corrections/article1357081.ece

If they were given to the police, it was a bit late and why? Neither of them were investigating the case at that time.

[Brietta]

If they were given to the police, it was a bit late and why? Neither of them were investigating the case at that time.

They WERE passed to the police, make no mistake about that.

I was under the impression Madeleine McCann's case was archived and would be reopened if and when compelling evidence became available ... the fact that sufficient evidence was upturned to enable the case to be dusted down and reopened suggests that the only people in Portugal with the power who could do so ... were indeed investigating.

[sadie]

If they were given to the police, it was a bit late and why? Neither of them were investigating the case at that time.

Again correct me if I am wrong.

It is my understanding that those Efits were not produced at the time of the crime, but some years later.


If there were no eFits earlier:
1)  Why didn't the PJ try and produce some themselves early on?
2)  With no efits earlier, how could the Mccanns/ private investigators pass them on ?   They didn't exist, it seems. 
You cant pass on something you aint got.