Madeleine McCann search to enter 'substantial phase' of activity

Madeleine police move to next phase

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are set to stage "a substantial phase of operational activity" in Portugal in the next few weeks.
Assistant commissioner Mark Rowley from Scotland Yard said that officers are working through every credible line of inquiry in the search for the missing three-year-old, as part of the "slog of a major investigation".
He said: "In the forthcoming weeks we are going to be going to a substantial phase of operational activity on the ground in Portugal."
The senior officer stressed: "It's something that you would expect in any major inquiry.
"A thorough serious crime investigation works systematically through all the credible possibilities, and often in an investigation you will have more than one credible possibility.
"Therefore just because we're doing a substantial phase of work in the forthcoming week doesn't mean that it's going to immediately lead to answers that will explain everything."
British police are currently running their own investigation into what happened to Madeleine, who vanished from Portuguese holiday resort Praia da Luz in May 2007.
The Portuguese have now also re-opened their inquiry into her disappearance, and while they are working with the UK force have refused to set up an official joint investigation.
Mr Rowley echoed Kate McCann's calls for restraint in media coverage of the case, and said: "I want to be able to go back to Kate and Gerry at some stage in the future and tell them we've got to the bottom of this, or second best is to go back to them and say we've turned over every stone and we can't get to an answer sometimes."
A number of officers from Scotland Yard are hoping to be involved in the latest phase of activity.
"The activity in Portugal is led by the Portuguese, that's absolutely crystal clear in law," Mr Rowley said.
"We have some officers who would like to be helping with that on the ground in Portugal, doing some of the work we anticipate. We are putting the finishing touches to the plans to the Portuguese in the coming weeks."
He added: "I anticipate a substantial phase of activity in forthcoming weeks including Portuguese and British officers but the detail of that is still being finalised with Portuguese colleagues and it will all be under Portuguese leadership."

PeterMac wrote:[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Madeleine police move to next phase

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are set to stage "a substantial phase of operational activity" in Portugal in the next few weeks.
Assistant commissioner Mark Rowley from Scotland Yard said that officers are working through every credible line of inquiry in the search for the missing three-year-old, as part of the "slog of a major investigation".
He said: "In the forthcoming weeks we are going to be going to a substantial phase of operational activity on the ground in Portugal."
The senior officer stressed: "It's something that you would expect in any major inquiry.
"A thorough serious crime investigation works systematically through all the credible possibilities, and often in an investigation you will have more than one credible possibility.
"Therefore just because we're doing a substantial phase of work in the forthcoming week doesn't mean that it's going to immediately lead to answers that will explain everything."
British police are currently running their own investigation into what happened to Madeleine, who vanished from Portuguese holiday resort Praia da Luz in May 2007.
The Portuguese have now also re-opened their inquiry into her disappearance, and while they are working with the UK force have refused to set up an official joint investigation.
Mr Rowley echoed Kate McCann's calls for restraint in media coverage of the case, and said: "I want to be able to go back to Kate and Gerry at some stage in the future and tell them we've got to the bottom of this, or second best is to go back to them and say we've turned over every stone and we can't get to an answer sometimes."
A number of officers from Scotland Yard are hoping to be involved in the latest phase of activity.
"The activity in Portugal is led by the Portuguese, that's absolutely crystal clear in law," Mr Rowley said.
"We have some officers who would like to be helping with that on the ground in Portugal, doing some of the work we anticipate. We are putting the finishing touches to the plans to the Portuguese in the coming weeks."
He added: "I anticipate a substantial phase of activity in forthcoming weeks including Portuguese and British officers but the detail of that is still being finalised with Portuguese colleagues and it will all be under Portuguese leadership."

Clay Regazzoni wrote:

PeterMac wrote:[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Madeleine police move to next phase

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are set to stage "a substantial phase of operational activity" in Portugal in the next few weeks.
Assistant commissioner Mark Rowley from Scotland Yard said that officers are working through every credible line of inquiry in the search for the missing three-year-old, as part of the "slog of a major investigation".
He said: "In the forthcoming weeks we are going to be going to a substantial phase of operational activity on the ground in Portugal."
The senior officer stressed: "It's something that you would expect in any major inquiry.
"A thorough serious crime investigation works systematically through all the credible possibilities, and often in an investigation you will have more than one credible possibility.
"Therefore just because we're doing a substantial phase of work in the forthcoming week doesn't mean that it's going to immediately lead to answers that will explain everything."
British police are currently running their own investigation into what happened to Madeleine, who vanished from Portuguese holiday resort Praia da Luz in May 2007.
The Portuguese have now also re-opened their inquiry into her disappearance, and while they are working with the UK force have refused to set up an official joint investigation.
Mr Rowley echoed Kate McCann's calls for restraint in media coverage of the case, and said: "I want to be able to go back to Kate and Gerry at some stage in the future and tell them we've got to the bottom of this, or second best is to go back to them and say we've turned over every stone and we can't get to an answer sometimes."
A number of officers from Scotland Yard are hoping to be involved in the latest phase of activity.
"The activity in Portugal is led by the Portuguese, that's absolutely crystal clear in law," Mr Rowley said.
"We have some officers who would like to be helping with that on the ground in Portugal, doing some of the work we anticipate. We are putting the finishing touches to the plans to the Portuguese in the coming weeks."
He added: "I anticipate a substantial phase of activity in forthcoming weeks including Portuguese and British officers but the detail of that is still being finalised with Portuguese colleagues and it will all be under Portuguese leadership."

Some very interesting wording in that little lot. Something for everybody, I would say.

PeterMac wrote:[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

: "I want to be able to go back to Kate and Gerry at some stage in the future and tell them we've got to the bottom of this, or second best is to go back to them and say we've turned over every stone and we can't get to an answer sometimes."

Andrew77R wrote:

PeterMac wrote:[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

: "I want to be able to go back to Kate and Gerry at some stage in the future and tell them we've got to the bottom of this, or second best is to go back to them and say we've turned over every stone and we can't get to an answer sometimes."

I want you to go back to Kate and Gerry and bloody well arrest the gruesome twosome.

P.S - A lot of the answers are in the original files if you would care to have a thorough read.

Leave no stone unturned... turn over every stone...

What is it with stones.

PeterMac wrote:[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Mr Rowley echoed Kate McCann's calls for restraint in media coverage of the case, and said: "I want to be able to go back to Kate and Gerry at some stage in the future and tell them we've got to the bottom of this, or second best is to go back to them and say we've turned over every stone and we can't get to an answer sometimes."

Andrew77R wrote:Leave no stone unturned... turn over every stone...

What is it with stones.

Tony Bennett wrote:

PeterMac wrote:[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Mr Rowley echoed Kate McCann's calls for restraint in media coverage of the case, and said: "I want to be able to go back to Kate and Gerry at some stage in the future and tell them we've got to the bottom of this, or second best is to go back to them and say we've turned over every stone and we can't get to an answer sometimes."

IMO the words in red tell us precisely where the Met are heading with this series of very public performances.

There will be lots more pictures and photo opportunities.

But nothing at the end of it

Markus 2 wrote:Mr Rowley warned that, after sifting through all the possible lines of inquiry, officers may draw a blank.

I expect so    

endgame wrote:I'm afraid this really is the same b*ll**ks we have been hearing over and over again for the last three years. Endless announcements that something is about to happen but we can't tell you what it is, nobody ever going back and questioning why nothing ever happened the last time. Can anyone think of a single pronouncement by SY has that has ever led to anything? "Named suspects", arrests within days, white van man, potbelly man, digging about to begin. It resembles less a police enquiry than a complete re-run of the McCann PI's  - home by Christmas, must speak to this suspect urgently etc. And still in the midst of it all are "Kate and Gerry" not Madeleine.

PeterMac wrote:

Mr Rowley echoed Kate McCann's calls for restraint in media coverage of the case, and said: "I want to be able to go back to Kate and Gerry at some stage in the future and tell them we've got to the bottom of this, or second best is to go back to them and say we've turned over every stone and we can't get to an answer sometimes."

PeterMac wrote:[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Madeleine police move to next phase


The Portuguese have now also re-opened their inquiry into her disappearance, and while they are working with the UK force have refused to set up an official joint investigation.
"

Bellisa wrote:A source close to the family say Madeleines parents are buoyed by this latest news.

Mr Rowley did not give details about what the next phase would involve, but said officers were working through every credible line of inquiry as part of the "slog of a major investigation".

DCI Andy Redwood, the senior investigating officer, and his team will be in Portugal carrying out various lines of enquiry.
Thorough serious crime investigations work systematically through all credible possibilities and therefore it should not be assumed that this substantial upcoming phase of work in Portugal will immediately lead us to the answers that will explain what has happened.
What you will see is normal police activity you would expect in any such major investigation.
"Similarly, this should not be seen as a sign that the investigation is nearing a conclusion. I fully expect that there will be much more work to do when this particular phase of activity comes to an end. It is helpful that any reporting of activity in Portugal is set in this context.
"We will be updating Mr and Mrs McCann throughout the activity as we have been throughout the investigation.
"We will not be giving information on when this activity is to occur.
"The very fact that we are in the position of moving towards substantial activity in Portugal shows that the relationship between the MPS and Portuguese colleagues is working...
"We have made it clear to colleagues in Portugal that we will not be giving operational updates. I appreciate this will be frustrating to you (the media) especially given the help you have provided to us with public appeals so far which has added significant evidence into our files. However, if this was an investigation in London I would not be making public details of operational investigative activity that we were planning or how it might link in to the investigation.
"Of course complications are added when an investigation is taken abroad.
"My letter last month did map out where we stood in terms of how we could manage the media demand in this investigation. If media interfere with police work, that work will stop. I suspect that the boundaries around what that is will be apparent and I asked you to cooperate with the requests of the Portuguese authorities as the most important thing is to make this inquiry go as smoothly as possible.
"On a recent visit to Portugal DCI Redwood was surrounded by a large media group asking for comments from him.
"I appreciate that media group may not solely be UK agencies, and other media may state they are unaware of our repeated requests.
"DCI Redwood and his team will not be giving comment.
"Please allow them the room to manoeuvre and work on what is a live investigation into the disappearance of a young girl. If you get any information ahead of our actions do not publish anything that may give suspects advance notice.
"The family have also made their wishes clear about allowing us and the Portuguese the room to carry on with our work and this was reinforced this publicly by Kate McCann when Andy and his team were last in Portugal.
"In my initial letter I asked editors to think twice - that advice stands. We all want the same outcome - to do everything possible to try to find answers for the McCann family.
"It is only fair on you I am upfront with you about what you can get and how the media might impact on the investigation.
"I am well aware that updates may help control this investigation and I am committed to doing this in a transparent way but mindful that nothing we do will damage the integrity of the investigation or the best possible chances of bringing it to a conclusion."

gbwales wrote:

Mr Rowley did not give details about what the next phase would involve, but said officers were working through every credible line of inquiry as part of the "slog of a major investigation".

In fairness, they have pretty much exhausted all the incredible lines of inquiry...

nglfi wrote:I can't believe Portuguese police would reopen the case on the basis of nothing more than Tractorman, therefore I think they are still working towards something. Whatever SY decide, whether they decide to say 'case closed', I would hope won't affect the Portuguese investigation at all. At the end of the day, worst case scenario will be SY wasted a load of money and have to say 'We tried and failed', and the Portuguese investigation carries on. Thankfully due to social media and the internet in general, if the PJ come up with any leads/enough evidence to arrest we will hear about it. How bad would that then look on SY if they had already closed the review and uncovered precisely nothing?

Police investigating Madeleine McCann's disappearance say "a substantial phase of operational activity" will begin within weeks.

Met Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said the activity would be led by Portuguese police with the involvement of British officers.
Has anyone informed Captain Mainwaring and the lads down at Walmington-on-Sea. They may be needed with up-to-date logistics and intelligence

Madeleine was three years old when she went missing from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal in May 2007.
Just think, my granddaughter will be reading the same news as me in 2080 and telling her own grand children to put down their Grimms' fairy tales and listen to a real one.

Scotland Yard launched a fresh investigation last July.
Fresh as in - well, fresh.
Credible possibilities
There might be a European election today.

Mr Rowley did not give details about what the next phase would involve, but said officers were working through every credible line of inquiry as part of the "slog of a major investigation".
We all took time out however to hear all about the Home Secretary's view of police excellence in historic investigations yesterday. We were all heartened to learn that the public had every confidence in our doing even better in  future ops.


He said: "It's something that you would expect in any major inquiry.
Along with our numerous updates - a new initiative we dreamt up in 2011 to keep the masses happy and the presses rolling. It was our way of contributing to the economic recovery.

"A thorough serious crime investigation works systematically through all the credible possibilities, and often in an investigation you will have more than one credible possibility.
But we decided to break the mould and work from the outer reaches of Mongolia in, and narrow things down that way.

"Therefore just because we're doing a substantial phase of work... doesn't mean that it's going to immediately lead to answers that will explain everything."
So do go ahead and book several world cruises or take a job abroad while we slog on looking for answers that could explain everything.


The Metropolitan Police's relationship with officers in Portugal was working well, he added.
We used standard zoo practices and cages have been in constant use.

Scotland Yard's investigation - codenamed Operation Grange - came two years into a review of the case.
We are partial to using codes in our everyday dealings with the public. We are sometimes accused of talking gobbledy-gook. But lessons have been learned and we will issue Berlitz books translating our most commonly used doublespeak

In March, British police said they were seeking an intruder who sexually abused five girls in Portugal between 2004 and 2006.
In Jan we said we were seeking (insert suspect type here).... In Feb we said we were seeking (insert suspect type here)..... In March we said we were seeking (insert suspect type here)  We wish to point out this is not a comprehensive list of our suspects.

Detectives say the attacks happened in holiday villas occupied by UK families in the Algarve.
And now you see how starting a world wide investigation away from the crime scene helped us concentrate our efforts right back on the Algarve tourist industry. But don't let that put you off your holidays. The diplomatic corps will be at your disposal 24/7 in the unhappy event of your tapas meal being ruined by a major crime.

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