Scotland Yard are in Portugal - Martin Brunt

by maebee 08.09.11 12:48

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They may not have welcomed the order from Downing Street to launch an investigation into Madeleine McCann's disappearance, but at least Scotland Yard detectives have made a first visit to Portugual.

I can't imagine they were given a warm welcome by their Portuguese colleagues whose work (failure to solve the mystery) the Met team is reviewing.

Still, it's a step in the right direction and officially the two groups met "with very good co-operation and liaison will continue."

There are 30 Met officers - the equivalent of a murder squad - working on the review and I'm told that a senior officer is having to give regular spending updates to the Home Office which is funding an operation that will cost several millions and last many months.

It's four months since the review was launched with great fanfare by the Prime Minister after a plea from Kate and Gerry McCann.

The couple had long felt abandoned by the British and Portuguese authorities to hunt alone for their missing daughter.

But it's difficult to get much information about the operation from the cops, No 10 or the Home Office.

A recent Freedom of Information request for answers to a dozen of so questions has been held up by the Yard's FOI man while he considers if the info sought is in the public interest.

by **Jill Havern** 08.09.11 12:52

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clown

by lj 08.09.11 12:56

The couple had long felt abandoned by the British and Portuguese authorities to hunt alone for their missing daughter.

I wonder if the SY already asked the question why the conning couple didn't request the investigation to stay open, when they could.

by **Jill Havern** 08.09.11 13:13

I can't imagine they were given a warm welcome by their Portuguese colleagues whose work (failure to solve the mystery) the Met team is reviewing.

How can it be a failure by the Portuguese to solve the mystery when it was the McCanns who allowed the investigation to be shelved because they didn't want the mystery solved? angry

I would think Goncalo/the PJ would welcome the team actually if only that it gives them the reason to finally re-open the case and get 'the bandits' into court.

Surely if the SY try to whitewash this case then the PJ or Goncalo Amaral can make that known...?

by Guest 08.09.11 13:20

I'm sure the PJ have a lot of info they will pass on to SY team. The text messages they have may be one of those things. What was in those text messages.

snipped.....

11:55: Mr Menezes said that a claim made by the McCanns on the first day after Madeleine’s disappearance was not true.
11:56: The witness said that Kate and Gerry’s report that they had been checking on their daughter every half an hour was inaccurate.
11:57: He claimed that although the parents had been checking on Madeleine, it was not as often as every 30 minutes.
12:01: Police intercepted text messages sent by the McCanns because they were suspicious of the parents’ role in Madeleine’s disappearance.
12:02: The text messages sent by Kate and Gerry were never admitted as evidence gathered as part of the investigation

12:38: Who suggested the checking of the McCanns’ text messages, Mr Menezes is asked. The police, he replies.
12:39: The text messages were never considered as part of the investigation because the judge did not allow it, the court hears.

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by Newintown 08.09.11 13:47

Get 'em Gonçalo wrote:
I can't imagine they were given a warm welcome by their Portuguese colleagues whose work (failure to solve the mystery) the Met team is reviewing.

How can it be a failure by the Portuguese to solve the mystery when it was the McCanns who allowed the investigation to be shelved because they didn't want the mystery solved? [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I would think Goncalo/the PJ would welcome the team actually if only that it gives them the reason to finally re-open the case and get 'the bandits' into court.

Surely if the SY try to whitewash this case then the PJ or Goncalo Amaral can make that known...?

I really hope that the MET haven't gone to see the PJ purely to get their hands on the parts of the files that were held back so that they can scrutinize them and pass on any info to the McCanns, as the McCanns have been desperate to get their hands on those files.

I wonder if the PJ can be made to hand over the files to the MET by a Court order.

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by Big Vern 08.09.11 13:51

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by Smokeandmirrors 08.09.11 13:53

Wouldn't it be good if Pat Brown was in the Algarve right now and just happened to bump into the guys from SY in, for example, a Tapas bar??

by The Rooster 08.09.11 15:13

"There are 30 Met officers - the equivalent of a murder squad - working on the review"

Unusual words but from Brunt, but why? The problem with the strategy engaged by the two imposters is they can't tell their arse from their elbow and think that they can play the devils advocate and not upset anyone in the process. I expect they'll not be happy with this blog, however, what does the future have in stock for them regarding the press? Considering they want to be involved with the phone hacking enquiry (when there's no evidence that their phones have ever been hacked according to their mouthpiece) and hold the press to account will be their undoing. This may be the time that newspaper editors have been waiting for. They will be able to close this years and next years sales targets when they start reporting what really happened in Portugal.

Ah say boy...Hell hath no fury like an editor scorned!

by lj 08.09.11 15:32

I think by now the time is ripe for the media. Nobody wants a "poor parents" article anymore, but boy would something like "what really happened in PdL" sell.

Enough to keep CR at bay.

by alfie02 08.09.11 15:38

Im so excited hope the end is near for the mcscams[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

by Newintown 08.09.11 15:56

"There are 30 Met officers - the equivalent of a murder squad - working on the review"

Perhaps Brunty is trying to pass on a message in a sneaky way[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

by alfie02 08.09.11 16:31

Newintown wrote:"There are 30 Met officers - the equivalent of a murder squad - working on the review"

Perhaps Brunty is trying to pass on a message in a sneaky way[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

OOOOh heres hoping [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

by **PeterMac** 08.09.11 17:17

According to Sky news the visit was at the beginning of August.
They kept that very quiet.
Nice work ! It may indicate that DCI Redwood is commanding a tight ship.

by Big Vern 08.09.11 17:42

Taking into account that the McCanns have been strongly supported by not one, not two, but THREE PMs in a row, does anyone really believe that this 'review', requested by the McCanns themselves remember, is seriously intended to be a genuine investigation undertaken in order to get to the truth? If you do believe that I'm afraid you are deluding yourself. It's nothing more than yet another PR exercise. If anything, plod will probably report back at the end of three years that Madeleine was abducted by a person/persons unknown!
The only way this case will ever be solved is when someone within the Tapas group blows a whistle after cracking under the strain.

by Big Vern 08.09.11 18:04

Maybe the post of mine above should be moved to this thread:
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by lj 08.09.11 18:31

I think your post fits well into any thread. I believe that too, Vern.

by Gillyspot 08.09.11 18:40

I am with you too Vern. Otherwise why would DC appear to agree to a review the very next day after the McCanns' open letter in Murdoch's Sun.

The only thing I have noted is that the McCanns asked for a transparent review which they didn't get. Unless they meant it to be only as transparent as their "fund"

by Smokeandmirrors 08.09.11 18:54

Big Vern wrote:
The only way this case will ever be solved is when someone within the Tapas group blows a whistle after cracking under the strain.

Totally agree. I have long thought that there might one day be some sort of confession from deathbed/beyond the grave. A letter could already be lodged with a solicitor somewhere.

by Angelique 08.09.11 19:21

I don't know if this is good news or not.

TB mentioned about a" McCann Insider" in his letter to SY - is this someone who could blow the whistle ?

by Cheshire Cat 08.09.11 19:50

Angelique wrote:I don't know if this is good news or not.

TB mentioned about a" McCann Insider" in his letter to SY - is this someone who could blow the whistle ?

Whatever went on at the Ocean Club that week in May was big. Something big enough to engulf the then Blair government ? Why else would Clarence Mitchell, head of Media Monitoring and key member of the Blair Governments communication team be 'seconded' to assist the McCann's?

Media support was provided at an 'appropriate level' according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in their letter to my MP on 14 May 2009.

Sending Mitchell was "appropriate" according to the FCO but this is very telling because there must have been something extraordinary surrounding the disappearance of Madeleine that required Mr Mitchell to be by the McCann's side.

The continuity of the cover-up is fascinating to observe and as Big Vern says, has even survived a change of Government. Seperate(?) cover-ups continue in Jersey and Aberdeen : I believe the Scotland Yard review is about gaining knowledge in order to continue the protection of the McCann's and many others.

by aiyoyo 08.09.11 20:30

SY going to crime scene in PDL does not bode well for mccanns. They are probably talking to prime investigators the PJ, and probably also studying the shutters that cannot be opened from the outside without waking up the dead among other things.

What it means is they are not looking elsewhere for Maddie.

by Daisy 08.09.11 20:42

Cheshire Cat wrote:

Whatever went on at the Ocean Club that week in May was big. Something big enough to engulf the then Blair government ? Why else would Clarence Mitchell, head of Media Monitoring and key member of the Blair Governments communication team be 'seconded' to assist the McCann's?

Media support was provided at an 'appropriate level' according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in their letter to my MP on 14 May 2009.

Sending Mitchell was "appropriate" according to the FCO but this is very telling because there must have been something extraordinary surrounding the disappearance of Madeleine that required Mr Mitchell to be by the McCann's side.

The continuity of the cover-up is fascinating to observe and as Big Vern says, has even survived a change of Government. Seperate(?) cover-ups continue in Jersey and Aberdeen : I believe the Scotland Yard review is about gaining knowledge in order to continue the protection of the McCann's and many others.

That's my thoughts too. I also believe Scotland Yard already have all the evidence they need; the review is all part of the hoax and the truth will not be revealed. Not until someone blows the whistle.

I can usually talk myself into 'optimism' but it's not happening on this one.

by **sharonl** 08.09.11 21:22

From Portugal

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Scotland Yard officers were in Portugal last August to discuss with the authorities to research the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, confirmed on Thursday an official source in London, but the PGR and PJ Portuguese say ignore this information.

"They were in Portugal in August and met with the Portuguese police, but we will not disclose it," said a spokesman for the British police agency Lusa.

The help of British police in the search for Madeleine McCann, who disappeared in Portugal in 2003 just days before completing four years of age, was ordered by the British Government in May this year.

The intervention of British Prime Minister, David Cameron, came after an open letter from the parents of Madeleine McCann, Kate and Gerry for an "independent review, complete and transparent" process of inquiry.

The couple, who came to be accused made by the Portuguese authorities in 2007, intended to be analyzed all the information gathered by the Police of the two countries.

Investigations by the Judicial Police (PJ) Portuguese ended with the filing of the case by the Attorney General's Office (PGR) in July 2008.

Contacted by AFP, both the PJ and the RMP have not confirmed the information that officers from Scotland Yard were in Portugal in August to discuss the Portuguese authorities with the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine.

PJ said an official source of "knowing" such information as the PGR said through his spokesman, he has "no knowledge" of this alleged investigation, adding that "in fact, nothing was asked or notified."

by Guest 08.09.11 21:34

Thanks sharonl. So am I reading correctly that the Portuguese police are saying they have no knowledge of this. What is going on?

by **Tony Bennett** 08.09.11 21:36

Cheshire Cat wrote:
Angelique wrote:I don't know if this is good news or not.

TB mentioned about a" McCann Insider" in his letter to SY - is this someone who could blow the whistle ?

Whatever went on at the Ocean Club that week in May was big. Something big enough to engulf the then Blair government ? Why else would Clarence Mitchell, head of Media Monitoring and key member of the Blair Governments communication team be 'seconded' to assist the McCann's?

Media support was provided at an 'appropriate level' according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in their letter to my MP on 14 May 2009.

Sending Mitchell was "appropriate" according to the FCO but this is very telling because there must have been something extraordinary surrounding the disappearance of Madeleine that required Mr Mitchell to be by the McCann's side.

The continuity of the cover-up is fascinating to observe and as Big Vern says, has even survived a change of Government. Seperate(?) cover-ups continue in Jersey and Aberdeen : I believe the Scotland Yard review is about gaining knowledge in order to continue the protection of the McCann's and many others.

Well, CC, you've not posted for a while, but that's a crucial point you've made there and basically I agree with the pressimism expressed here.

HOWEVER, despite that pessimism, I consider it is right that everyone who considers that there is evidence which suggests that Madeleine was not abducted but, rather, died in her parents' apartment, should comunicate with D.C.I. Redwood's team at Belgravia Police Station.

Angelique has raised again the issue of the 'McCann Team insider' that I have referred to in the past.

The person concerned is someone whose evidence would very much suggest that the McCann Team's private investigation was a sham.

No-one on D.C.I. Redwood's team has yet come back to me to ask for information as to how to contact this person and what she can tell them.

I am a patient man.

But I am waiting.

Incidentally whilst I would like to have faith in D.C.I. Redwood's team I believe the main purpose of his men going to Portugal may well be to get their hands on the files the PJ want to keep from prying eyes, and that as some have suggested, this information might find its way back to the McCanns.

It is sad that one has such little faith in one's own police forces, but recent events have shown us the level of corruption at the top.

By the way, remember Andy Hayman, the ex-Head of Anti-Terrorism, who wined and dined with Murdoch and then got a job writing pieces for the Murdoch papers?

A nearby ex-Essex Police Officer whom I know quite well recently went to the popular annual social event/bunfight for current and ex-Essex cops. All the talk at the social was swapping notes about Hayman's corrupt reign whilst in Essex, where he was Divisional Commander for the Southend area until 1998. It was well-known that all major police matters in those days were settled at Thursday afternoon meetings at the Southend Masonic Lodge; all the Superintendents used to knock off at Thurday lunchtime and make their way down there. Many of the cops swapped stories about his corrupt actions. One of the stories told at the social was how one summer evening Hayman drove around at speed in his brand new red sports car up and down the promenade round along Southend, gaily throwing V-signs at passers-by.

Just the sort of cop who made it to the top of the Met.

by Guest 08.09.11 22:10

sharonl wrote:From Portugal

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Scotland Yard officers were in Portugal last August to discuss with the authorities to research the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, confirmed on Thursday an official source in London, but the PGR and PJ Portuguese say ignore this information.

"They were in Portugal in August and met with the Portuguese police, but we will not disclose it," said a spokesman for the British police agency Lusa.

The help of British police in the search for Madeleine McCann, who disappeared in Portugal in 2003 just days before completing four years of age, was ordered by the British Government in May this year.

The intervention of British Prime Minister, David Cameron, came after an open letter from the parents of Madeleine McCann, Kate and Gerry for an "independent review, complete and transparent" process of inquiry.

The couple, who came to be accused made by the Portuguese authorities in 2007, intended to be analyzed all the information gathered by the Police of the two countries.

Investigations by the Judicial Police (PJ) Portuguese ended with the filing of the case by the Attorney General's Office (PGR) in July 2008.

Contacted by AFP, both the PJ and the RMP have not confirmed the information that officers from Scotland Yard were in Portugal in August to discuss the Portuguese authorities with the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine.

PJ said an official source of "knowing" such information as the PGR said through his spokesman, he has "no knowledge" of this alleged investigation, adding that "in fact, nothing was asked or notified."

Now in being reported in 3 papers in Portugal

Madeleine: British police met with Portuguese officers in August, says official source, but the PJ and PGR are not aware of this(from MCF forum)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] ... em=f672660

So who was the spokesman for the British police, and why are the PJ not aware of this visit?

The Press Asscociation are reporting this visit..........

Madeleine police in Portugal talks
(UKPA) – 1 hour ago

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Doh, it's like the India sighting all over again - two differing stories!

by **PeterMac** 08.09.11 22:27

Interesting !
Michael Todd was also from Essex.
As was my ex-boss. Bartlett, a coward, whose knees started to tremble when Todd was appointed ACC.
Need to do a bit more research
Shall be back.

by Cheshire Cat 08.09.11 22:31

Tony Bennett wrote:
Incidentally whilst I would like to have faith in D.C.I. Redwood's team I believe the main purpose of his men going to Portugal may well be to get their hands on the files the PJ want to keep from prying eyes, and that as some have suggested, this information might find its way back to the McCanns.

It is sad that one has such little faith in one's own police forces, but recent events have shown us the level of corruption at the top.

.

Prior to the Madeleine case I had never questioned the honesty of our police force and I had faith in many politicians. Not any more!

However, the internet gives me optimism that the truth will become increasingly more widely known.

by lj 08.09.11 23:00

It was a before this case that I started doubting, but this case has indeed erased my last confidence in authorities. And a big portion of humanity, although all at the sudden you will find people that go beyond their own interest to find justice and all those basics as freedom of speech.