What has Operation Grange actually achieved ?

[pegasus]

They've achieved a huge revelation, advancing from focussing on an open carrying sighting to ...  focussing on an open carrying sighting.

[ShiningInLuz]

If the OP means, is OG on the verge of a breakthrough, then IMO the answer is no.  I can see no sign of OG closing in.

Sticking to how the topic is headed, although I am not a fan of OG, I believe it has achieved a lot.

According to the Met, cold cases are reviewed once every two years, so I am tending to think what will be in the pot if OG is archived.

The first thing is that HOLMES 2 should be (nearly) fully loaded, to a high degree of quality.  It would not contain the work of a future McCann PI team, or anything else floating around in the shut down period. 

But it would already contain the full PJ Files, presumably professionally translated to debug any translation issues.  It would contain the previous McCann PI team work.  It would contain the Crimewatch responses.

It should contain the rather simplistic but rather important idea that hand digging a Madeleine-sized grave in/around Luz is highly unlikely, so they should be looking at alternatives.

It would appear that a number of characters have essentially been ruled out.  Some of these are peripheral.  But if Sergey Malinka really has become a person of no interest, that would be quite a step forward.

If Tony Bennett is correct, DCI Andy Redwood has met with Martin Smith twice.  I will not speculate on the content of such meetings, other than to hope it produced some progress.

The forensics trip to Coimbra should have produced a better evaluation of what opportunities lie in that respect.  Even should that turn out to be no opportunity at all, OG would be better informed than we are.

Again, I can only speculate about the interview with Mr John Hill, but if they don't have better information on the workings of the OC, I would be surprised and disappointed.

HOLMES 2 should have flagged up a lot of dross that puzzles us.  Both Neil Berry and Raj Balu talk about previous statements that don't appear to be in the files, just as one minor example.

OG should have had access to the bits of the PJ files that were not made public, and this may be supported by one particular person interviewed.

In information made public about OG, they have investigated a large number of paedophiles/sex offenders and not found a link to the case.

I could go on, but the bottom line is OG appears more likely to be archived than to produce a solution.  However, wouldn't you like to get access to the current OG case file for a week or so? 

[sadie]

If the OP means, is OG on the verge of a breakthrough, then IMO the answer is no.  I can see no sign of OG closing in.

Sticking to how the topic is headed, although I am not a fan of OG, I believe it has achieved a lot.

According to the Met, cold cases are reviewed once every two years, so I am tending to think what will be in the pot if OG is archived.

The first thing is that HOLMES 2 should be (nearly) fully loaded, to a high degree of quality.  It would not contain the work of a future McCann PI team, or anything else floating around in the shut down period. 

But it would already contain the full PJ Files, presumably professionally translated to debug any translation issues.  It would contain the previous McCann PI team work.  It would contain the Crimewatch responses.

It should contain the rather simplistic but rather important idea that hand digging a Madeleine-sized grave in/around Luz is highly unlikely, so they should be looking at alternatives.

It would appear that a number of characters have essentially been ruled out.  Some of these are peripheral.  But if Sergey Malinka really has become a person of no interest, that would be quite a step forward.

If Tony Bennett is correct, DCI Andy Redwood has met with Martin Smith twice.  I will not speculate on the content of such meetings, other than to hope it produced some progress.

The forensics trip to Coimbra should have produced a better evaluation of what opportunities lie in that respect.  Even should that turn out to be no opportunity at all, OG would be better informed than we are.

Again, I can only speculate about the interview with Mr John Hill, but if they don't have better information on the workings of the OC, I would be surprised and disappointed.

HOLMES 2 should have flagged up a lot of dross that puzzles us.  Both Neil Berry and Raj Balu talk about previous statements that don't appear to be in the files, just as one minor example.

OG should have had access to the bits of the PJ files that were not made public, and this may be supported by one particular person interviewed.

In information made public about OG, they have investigated a large number of paedophiles/sex offenders and not found a link to the case.

I could go on, but the bottom line is OG appears more likely to be archived than to produce a solution.  However, wouldn't you like to get access to the current OG case file for a week or so?

Personally, I think they have already cracked  it ... but probabvly do not have enough hard evidence atm to prosecute.

I do wish that Neil Berrys and Raj Balus missing statements were released.  Also Caroline Carpenters.

[Gadfly1.3]

Interesting thread.  Some strong views on the investigation.

I think the assessment of their work in the future should be shaped, with reference to the following:

1) The sheer amount of false leads that they conclusively ruled out through hard work over 3 years.
2) The clarification of over 1,000 statements that may aid prosecutors with the challenge element of any future interviews / questions in court.
3) The fact that ultimately -- if there is a trial re: Madeleine's removal from 5A -- it had to be held in Portugal and as such, their 'success' was always going to be limited in terms of SY gaining a breakthrough in some imagined confrontation.

And, this is a big IF...

If the case takes on new dimensions -- in other words, for potential crimes committed outside of Portugal (on UK soil) -- then they may take some additional credit, but not for anything to do with events on the night that Madeleine went missing.

[pegasus]

They've possibly achieved complete amnesia of two rules they could have taken onboard in a recent London Met case:
1. Do not base a whole investigation on a time-window estimate which is based on assumption. 2. Never bet everything on one sighting, in case it turns out to be completely irrelevant.

[mercury]

Personally, I think they have already cracked  it ... but probabvly do not have enough hard evidence atm to prosecute.

I do wish that Neil Berrys and Raj Balus missing statements were released.  Also Caroline Carpenters.

What evidence are OG missing?

Ps NB and RB statements are not missing, neither is Carolyn Carpenters...they are held by the Leicester police...and no they wont release them

[John]

Personally, I think they have already cracked  it ... but probabvly do not have enough hard evidence atm to prosecute.

I do wish that Neil Berrys and Raj Balus missing statements were released.  Also Caroline Carpenters.

I can't see it myself Sadie, had there been anything of value already found we would have seen much more activity in Portugal.

I can't help thinking that Redwoods exploratory sojourn to Portugal last year was a desperate final attempt to find Madeleine but failed to take him and Scotland Yard any further.  On the bright side however, this gives hope to the family and their continued belief that she could still be alive and in the Algarve.

[Miss Taken Identity]

I also suspect they are aware of what happened,but have no evidence that would be considered  valid for an arrest and prosecution in Portugual.

It is looking like Little Madeleines disappearance will remain unsolved 'officially'.

But, sometimes , when you take your eye off the ball it can end up at the back of the net when you least expect it.