Operation Task Methodology

[G-Unit]

Operation Task seems to have attracted more outside involvement than Operation Grange has. The bodies represented in their Gold Group were;

The Assistant Chief Constable of Leicester Constabulary (the leader)
The CPS
The FCO
The Home Office
ACPO
CEOP
The Metropolitan Police
The NPIA
The SIO
http://library.college.police.uk/docs/npia/Strategic-debrief-operation-task-2009.pdf

117

[blonk]

Operation Task seems to have attracted more outside involvement than Operation Grange has. The bodies represented in their Gold Group were;

The Assistant Chief Constable of Leicester Constabulary (the leader)
The CPS
The FCO
The Home Office
ACPO
CEOP
The Metropolitan Police
The NPIA
The SIO
http://library.college.police.uk/docs/npia/Strategic-debrief-operation-task-2009.pdf

There was not even a pretence that this group of Home Office, police, security and intelligence chiefs were to meet together to help the Portuguese police look for Madeleine McCann.

The group's purpose was basically the same as that of the McCanns' chief PR agent, Clarence Mitchell, namely to 'control what comes out in the media'. Or as they put it rather more vaguely, to 'conduct media liaison', or similar words to that effect.

We can be sure that some of those right at the very top of the above-named agencies were represented on this 'Committee of Nine' government agencies. But we shall probably never know who they were, as a Freedom of Information request for those names was declined, though it is hard to see why.

This Operation Task Force was convened as early as 8 May 2007, barely five days after Madeleine was reported missing. Quite why the Crown Prosecution Service was involved five days after Madeleine was reported missing is one of many mysteries in this case.

As was the visit of the current Director Of Public Prosecutions (Alison Saunders) and another very senior colleague to Portugal in 2013.

What on earth could that achieve...and has it achieved?   
 

[G-Unit]

Hello blonk.

There certainly seemed to be a close relationship between some of these agencies and the McCanns. The assistant chief constable for Leicestershire visited them in Portugal shortly after Madeleine's disappearance, Jim Gamble of CEOP got pretty involved, Gerry had the number of Ken Jones, the head of ACPO. [madeleine]

It's hard to believe that senior police officers and prosecutors chose to take people on trust. If anyone in society should have learned to exercise caution it's law enforcement people. Just like Operation Grange they seem to have made up their minds what crime had been committed based on no evidence whatsoever;

Their strategy included the intention to "secure and preserve evidence which may assist in the investigation of her abduction"
http://library.college.police.uk/docs/npia/Strategic-debrief-operation-task-2009.pdf     (Page 9)

I can't help wondering what they did with evidence that didn't assist in investigating abduction.

[Alice Purjorick]

Hello blonk.

There certainly seemed to be a close relationship between some of these agencies and the McCanns. The assistant chief constable for Leicestershire visited them in Portugal shortly after Madeleine's disappearance, Jim Gamble of CEOP got pretty involved, Gerry had the number of Ken Jones, the head of ACPO. [madeleine]

It's hard to believe that senior police officers and prosecutors chose to take people on trust. If anyone in society should have learned to exercise caution it's law enforcement people. Just like Operation Grange they seem to have made up their minds what crime had been committed based on no evidence whatsoever;

Their strategy included the intention to "secure and preserve evidence which may assist in the investigation of her abduction"
http://library.college.police.uk/docs/npia/Strategic-debrief-operation-task-2009.pdf     (Page 9)

I can't help wondering what they did with evidence that didn't assist in investigating abduction.

See this weeks news !

[Robittybob1]

See this weeks news !

Could you post the link please.

[Alice Purjorick]

Could you post the link please.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42431171
"Two young men were cleared when it emerged that Met Police officers had failed to disclose crucial evidence".

[Robittybob1]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42431171
"Two young men were cleared when it emerged that Met Police officers had failed to disclose crucial evidence".

Well do do think the same would have happened in the McCann case?  Would this rule apply in Portugal: "The police have a duty to disclose any material to the defence that might support their case. If disclosure fails, innocent people go to jail."?

[Alice Purjorick]

Well do do think the same would have happened in the McCann case?  Would this rule apply in Portugal: "The police have a duty to disclose any material to the defence that might support their case. If disclosure fails, innocent people go to jail."?

I haven't a clue squire.
I just gave a potential answer to a question posed by another poster.

[Robittybob1]

I haven't a clue squire.
I just gave a potential answer to a question posed by another poster.

I would say it is a duty that is broken time and time again in all countries, for it would be rather difficult to prove.  If it is not written down, did it happen? 
http://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-london-42366623/liam-allan-trial-why-disclosure-failings-can-prove-crucial

[slartibartfast]

I would say it is a duty that is broken time and time again in all countries, for it would be rather difficult to prove.  If it is not written down, did it happen? 
http://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-london-42366623/liam-allan-trial-why-disclosure-failings-can-prove-crucial

In more archaic parlance, it could be viewed as “being fitted up by the old bill.”

[barrier]

Operation Task seems to have attracted more outside involvement than Operation Grange has. The bodies represented in their Gold Group were;

The Assistant Chief Constable of Leicester Constabulary (the leader)
The CPS
The FCO
The Home Office
ACPO
CEOP
The Metropolitan Police
The NPIA
The SIO
http://library.college.police.uk/docs/npia/Strategic-debrief-operation-task-2009.pdf

The MET were involved then,it wouldn't be to much of a leap to assume that there would be the same level if not greater involvement in OG.

[G-Unit]

Operation Task was unusual because it approached Portugal to offer assistance. Normally the UK responds to requests for help from other jurisdictions, it doesn't offer it. (page 17)

Why the UK broke with tradition in this way isn't explained.

[G-Unit]

When another British child disappeared in Greece in 1991 the British Embassy offered no support at all to his family because;

due to us not being under arrest for any crime and the Embassy's feeling that the local police had better knowledge and so it should be best to leave it to them.
http://www.helpfindben.co.uk/history.html

It later became obvious that it wasn't best to leave it to the Greek police, as their response was much less adequate than the response of the Portuguese police to the disappearance of Madeleine.

Perhaps that explains the response of the FCO to Madeleine's disappearance. Not only did they dispatch the British Ambassador to the scene, they instigated the offer of assistance to Portugal rather than waiting for a request from them.

[jassi]

Even if it was in response to 'lessons learned', it was put into operation remarkably quickly. For all anyone knew at that time, she might have been found before they could get people in place.
What date was the Gold Command group constituted?

[G-Unit]

Even if it was in response to 'lessons learned', it was put into operation remarkably quickly. For all anyone knew at that time, she might have been found before they could get people in place.
What date was the Gold Command group constituted?

As the situation developed over the Bank Holiday weekend Leicestershire police began to feel swamped by media interest and governmental requests. The Gold Commander and the President of ACPO agreed that LP would lead a national Gold Command Group to coordinate the operation.

So for various reasons the local response by LP wasn't enough and a national response was needed. Perhaps because of the scattering of the returning holidaymakers across the country and people nationwide responding to the McCann's appeals for help.