It is a book written to reflect the time of 2015 when against all the odds Madeleine McCann's case has been reopened by the authorities in Portugal and here.
The book written eight years ago reflects that time. It unfortunately highlights an investigation which failed to uphold the principles you consider important in investigative journalism and which I consider paramount in policing and that is to keep all options open.
The theory was followed ... not the evidence. The chief investigator saw everything through the prism of his own prejudices and experience ... both seriously flawed.
That Summers and Swan are even handed authors is reflected in the slight manner in which this incompetence is reported ... I wonder if they now in retrospect regret not actually doing the hatchet job they could have.
I read the original and I found that their treatment of the subject showed a sensitive, professional and humane awareness of the sad fact that a little girl is still missing.
The McCanns and the Yard urged us to be constantly careful that we do nothing during our research that might – however inadvertently – impact negatively on the search for Madeleine. This was in any case a paramount concern for us. It has meant that, contrary to the very extensive interviewing conducted for our previous eight books – we talked with more than a thousand people for one book – we limited the interviews conducted for this project.
Interviews with some individuals could have led to crossed wires with the ongoing police investigation. Interviews with police or officials in Portugal could have adversely affected the fragile relationship between UK and Portuguese forces. Nevertheless, we did speak with former senior officials in both Portuguese and British law enforcement, and list some of their names below.
Summers, Anthony; Swan, Robbyn (2014-09-11). Looking For Madeleine (Kindle Locations 4095-4096). Headline. Kindle Edition.
