Telephone call to Operation Grange, 2.35pm Tuesday 16 October 2018

by **Tony Bennett** 16.10.18 15:30

Telephone call to Operation Grange, 2.35pm Tuesday 16 October 2018

In view of uncertainty about whether Operation Grange is still in existence, and whether or not the Metropolitan Police has applied for extended funding, or if so, whether the Home Office has yet made a decision, I contacted Operation Grange today on the publicly-available telephone number, 0207 321 9521.

I also rang because of a number of messages posted by Isabelle McFadden on the internet claiming that Operation Grange HAD applied for more money and that officer ‘Mark’ had told her that this was a serious, honest, genuine enquiry into how Madeleine had ‘disappeared’.

After dialling the number, there were six rings, and then this 8-word message in a rather dour, unwelcoming male voice: “OPERATION GRANGE IS UNAVAILABLE. PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE”.

So I did leave a message. I said I have some evidence to give to the team. I did at the same time say that my evidence may not be consistent with the terms of the remit (i.e. it did not support the abduction narrative) and therefore asked if they would be interested in receiving it.

I also enquired whether the media reports were true that the Met Police had now applied for more OG funding, whether, if so, the Home Office had approved further expenditure and whether internet speculation that Operation Grange may have terminated could be true, in the light of claims that Operation Grange was no longer featured on the Met Police website.

I will report any reply here.

I have also today submitted the Freedom of Information Act request below to the Met Police via the ‘What Do They Know’ website.

FOI ACT REQUEST 16 OCTOBER 2018

The Metropolitan Police successfully applied for further Home Office funding for Operation Grange [search for Madeleine McCann] until ‘September 2018’. Today it is 16 October 2018.

There was a recent statement by the Metropolitan Police reported in sections of the media stating that the Met Police had NOT yet applied for further funding.

Therefore please answer the following questions:
1 Has the Met Police applied for further Home Office funding for Operation Grange?

2 If so, when?

3 If so, how much funding did they ask for and/or what period did they specify for any extension to be sanctioned?

4 Was any application for future funding supported by a written application specifiying in detail how any further funding could help to find out exactly what happened to Madeleine and/or identify, charge and prosecute the person or persons responsible for her disappearance?

5 If an application HAS been made to the Home Office, has the Met Police received a reply yet? If so, when, and what was the reply?

by Phoebe 16.10.18 17:07

@ Tony Bennett. Good stuff! The response to FOI will be interesting.
The notion that police officers would give out information to someone who just calls up and asks has to be a mickey take, unless, the poor sod claiming this is as deluded as my elderly neighbour (lovely chap, but certified tinfoil helmet territory!) who often tells me he has chats with President Higgins, Trump and the Queen (to name but a few).

by **Tony Bennett** 16.10.18 17:24

Phoebe wrote:@ Tony Bennett. Good stuff! The response to FOI will be interesting.
The notion that police officers would give out information to someone who just calls up and asks has to be a mickey take, unless, the poor sod claiming this is as deluded as my elderly neighbour (lovely chap, but certified tinfoil helmet territory!) who often tells me he has chats with President Higgins, Trump and the Queen (to name but a few).

I have spoken on the 'phone to officers of Operation Grange before - and in October 2011 I and a fellow-member of the Madeleine Foundation spent time in person at the OG offices talking to the second-in-command there and handing in a dossier about the case, concentrating on the activities of the McCanns' dodgy private investigations.

You wrote: "The notion that police officers would give out information to someone who just calls up and asks has to be a mickey take..."

Under normal conditions I would agree with you.

But there was one notable exception.

If your name's Anthony Summers & Robyn Swan, they invite you in for coffee and biscuits and give you a few juicy titbits about their new lines of enquiry.

They never gave us coffee and biscuits when we went there.

by willowthewisp 16.10.18 18:38

Tony Bennett wrote:
Phoebe wrote:@ Tony Bennett. Good stuff! The response to FOI will be interesting.
The notion that police officers would give out information to someone who just calls up and asks has to be a mickey take, unless, the poor sod claiming this is as deluded as my elderly neighbour (lovely chap, but certified tinfoil helmet territory!) who often tells me he has chats with President Higgins, Trump and the Queen (to name but a few).

I have spoken on the 'phone to officers of Operation Grange before - and in October 2011 I and a fellow-member of the Madeleine Foundation spent time in person at the OG offices talking to the second-in-command there and handing in a dossier about the case, concentrating on the activities of the McCanns' dodgy private investigations.

You wrote: "The notion that police officers would give out information to someone who just calls up and asks has to be a mickey take..."

Under normal conditions I would agree with you.

But there was one notable exception.

If your name's Anthony Summers & Robyn Swan, they invite you in for coffee and biscuits and give you a few juicy titbits about their new lines of enquiry.

They never gave us coffee and biscuits when we went there.

It also helps if your names is Clarence Mitchell,Spin Meister Supreme,when contacting Operation Grange,it's not what you know, its who you know,Kate,Gerry Your Majesty!

by **sharonl** 16.10.18 19:46

Tony

Allegedly they also speak to The Sun and other fake news papers.

Maybe you should have asked whether all these crazy news reports about new leads, cleaners, tractor men, gypsies etc., have any truth in them.

by sar 16.10.18 23:38

Tony...was the "hold" music the Benny Hill theme?

by Doug D 13.11.18 19:19

MPS late again!
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by Doug D 15.11.18 15:59

One law for one………………..?

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Four of the questions have probably just about been answered in the press, but Q4 is obviously too difficult for them to respond to on time:

4. Was any application for future funding supported by a written application specifiying in detail how any further funding could help to find out exactly what happened to Madeleine and/or identify, charge and prosecute the person or persons responsible for her disappearance?

eta:
Even that shouldn't have been too hard to just stick the usual 'can't comment on ongoing investigations' bullshit on, in order to get the whole response out in due time, AS REQUIRED BY LAW.