PM: Madeleine Case 'Exceptional'

by Guest 13.05.11 15:27

PM: Madeleine Case 'Exceptional'

Ruth Barnett
May 13, 2011 1:00 PM

The Prime Minister wants to see a UK police review in into Madeleine McCann's disappearance because it is "clearly an exceptional case".

That's according to his spokesman, who today rebuffed several potential criticisms of the decision - that David Cameron is bowing to the tabloid press, that it amounts to political interference by the Home Office, and that it will be costly.

Mr Cameron considers it "exceptional" because of the significant public interest, the length of time Madeleine has been missing and the international dimension to the case.

If there are doubters, they may point out that it is perhaps only the first point that is truly unique - there are other children who have been missing a long time, others who are missing abroad.

And has the Home Office interfered by making this "request" to the Met? It is claimed not - because it was not "direction" and the force agreed anyway.

But, as Paul Waugh over at PoliticsHome also points out, this is a particularly sensitive issue in the light of the Government's hopes for directly elected police commissioners.

The Lords voted to change this policy earlier this week (though this will almost certainly be overturned by the Commons...) and one of the main criticisms centres on fears these hugely powerful individuals could make politically-motivated interventions.

In a draft protocol on commissioners, published by the Home Office, it says its "strong commitment to ensuring that the operational independence of Chief Constables will remain".

But when does a "request" become an instruction?

And lastly, the cash. The investigation won't be paid for by the cops, but by the Home Office, thanks to "unallocated" money in the budget which will be given as a "special grant".

But at this time of fiscal austerity, it may be a surprise to some that there is any leftover cash at all. I've asked the Home Office for more details on how much there is and what it is normally spent on - I'll update this post when I get a response.

A quick search suggests in the past this pot of cash has been used to fund an investigation into a fatal fire and policing events such as political party conferences, plus there are reports the Government would help pay for the inquiry into the Cumbria shootings this way.

David Cameron will be more than aware of all these issues and clearly believes it is the right thing to do and that all those involved have acted properly.

His open letter to Kate and Gerry McCann, published in the Sun, indicates he is reacting partly as Prime Minister and partly as a father.

Labour's shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, has welcomed the McCanns' request for information and the authorities' decision to do everything in their power. This suggests while there might be questions about how the Government has responded, there's unlikely to be a row.

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Posted by: Littlepea on May 13, 2011 3:15 PMI cant stand these two in the media every 5 mins, the portugal police closed the case because they know they killed the child accidently as she was always screming if left alone so they gave her injections of different seditives (they are doctors remember) to keep her quiet, went out on the razz however in their haste gave her an overdose, came back to find the child had died due to an overdose so buried her in a church! However in portugal it is forbidden under any circumstances to dig on holy ground so they closed the case, they actually know where she is!! These two are now just after the fame and the money, its a crime in itself they are alound to get away with it!Recommend (0)Report this commentPermalink

Posted by: Godber on May 13, 2011 3:11 PMscandalous i think of all the other parents who lost thier kids and these and nothing is done. these so called '' parents'' should be in the dock for what theve done. How social services havent taken away thier other kids i dont know
gggggggggggggggggggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrRecommend (1)Report this commentPermalink

Posted by: Godber on May 13, 2011 3:10 PMscandalous i think of all the other parents who lost thier kids and these and nothing is done. these so called '' parents'' should be in the dock for what theve done.Recommend (0)Report this commentPermalinkPosted by: rollseyes on May 13, 2011 3:01 PMWaste of money; she's dead or worse...

How about charging the McCanns with criminal neglect and having a good hard look as to why the police in Portugal suspected they had killed her.Recommend (2)Report this commentPermalink

Posted by: hastings10 on May 13, 2011 2:59 PMWhat has been exceptional is the PR machine that has resulted in the Portuguese police being unfairly criticised. They may well not be as experienced as Scotland Yard and probably some mistakes were made, but the media has had a sustained campaign to paint them in as bad a light as possible.

We should remember how much help the police and the citizens of Portugal gave this couple.

by: tempus-fugit on May 13, 2011 2:50 PMIf the acts which led up to this incident had been committed by parents from Liverpool or Glasgow, newspapers and politicians alike would have been lining up to castigate them, holding them up to public ridicule as examples of poor parenting.

Yet because these are medical professionals we have to believe the opposite is true; politicians find themselves complicit in their own public manipulation for fear that they may be seen as less caring, an image which may impinge negatively on their public personas.

It is 18 months since Mr. Cameron said he would, if elected to office act appropriately; why then has it taken an example of TV blackmail to get Mr. Cameron to take action, effectively taking yet another 'U' turn in less than 24 hours from his previous public stance?Recommend (7)Report this commentPermalink

Posted by: Rosa on May 13, 2011 2:49 PM"Mr Cameron considers it "exceptional" because of the significant public interest, the length of time Madeleine has been missing and the international dimension to the case."

AH, the lenght of time...then, can we assume that if the lenght of time a child has been missing is a decisive factor for the personal intervention of the Prime Minister, cab we expect him to order the MET to "review" Ben Needham's case??? Will the MET look through the greek files?
PRIME MINISTER, MR. CAMERON, SIR,
WILL YOU GIVE THE SAME EXCEPTIONAL CARE TO BEN NEEDHAM AND HIS FAMILY?

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Posted by: Badwolf from England on May 13, 2011 2:46 PMThis is NOT exceptional at all! There is nothing special about the McCanns except the fact that they have questions to answer if they don’t sue you first for asking them!Recommend (8)Report this commentPermalink

Posted by: che3103 on May 13, 2011 2:42 PM"Exceptional Circumstances"

Wow once again it seems to be different for people in prominent positions. What about all the other missing British kids that are missing? I suppose there not as important and Cameron has to ensure he stays in touch with "normal" people by doing this. As a father myself there is no way id have left my kids all alone irregardless of how much i wanted to dine with friends. I ask myself, if the British Police are getting involved then i feel the British social service should be getting involved. As a middle class parent i can bet my bottom dollar if that was me id have my other kids taken from me. I have no sympathy for the Mccanns as they chose lifestyle over there responsibilties and hope maddie hasnt suffered because of there negliegence.

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