There was no precedent because it was a relatively unique situation. When maddie was not found that night it was relatively certain something serious had happened and highly probable a serius crime had been committed......we have discussed this before and im sure you are aware the UK police went down all the right channels to offer assistance and there offer was accepted...inteference is a deliberately emotive word...all my opinion
Relative to what? The 900 or so other crimes committed against UK citizens abroad in 2007? They included murder, rape and abduction but they didn't get the same response.
I don't know what 'the right channels' are. The FCO contacted someone and the PJ asked for FLO's as a result. As it had rarely or never been done before we don't know if that was the right way to do it or not.
Undue levels of contact with the family by MP's, ministers and senior police officers along with media comment by them led to the officers on the ground in Portugal being seen in Portugal as representing the interests of the family rather than the interests of justice. (page 42)
From a Portuguese perspective there was certainly interference in my opinion.