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Analysis |
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Richard Bilton
BBC News |
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Seven years since Madeleine
McCann disappeared, the
spotlight once again falls
on the little town Praia da
Luz and the search for a
lost girl. But the back
story is the relationship
between two countries, and
two police forces.
On Tuesday, a Portuguese
prosecutor confirmed that a
series of requests from
British police for
investigative work in
Portugal have been approved.
And later - in an open
letter - the Metropolitan
Police Assistant
Commissioner Mark Rowley
said activity is to begin
soon.
But there was more. Mr
Rowley urged the media to
avoid speculation; to think
of the impact it might have
on the investigation.
That is because the
Portuguese police and not
the British will carry out
any work in Praia da Luz.
British officers will simply
be observers. Without the
co-operation of the
Portuguese Policia
Judiciaria, the British
efforts will not get far.
The relationship between the
forces has been difficult at
times. Officers in both
countries have told me of
their frustrations. Both
have active and separate
investigations. Leaks and
speculation could fatally
undermine their
co-operation.
It seems an upsurge in
police activity is about to
start. If it is to be
successful, this sometimes
uneasy relationship will
need to survive. |
Police investigating Madeleine McCann's
disappearance say "activity" is expected
to begin in Portugal soon.
The disclosure comes amid reports
Portuguese authorities have given
permission for sites in Praia da Luz,
where the toddler went missing, to be
searched.
Met Police Assistant Commissioner Mark
Rowley said he would be unable to
provide details of the activity.
But he said he believed it would occur
"in the coming weeks".
No media updates
A letter was sent to media editors amid
speculation about excavation work. Mr
Rowley asked them to "think carefully"
about information they published.
Madeleine was three when she went
missing from a holiday apartment in
Praia da Luz, Algarve, in May 2007.
A request to search a number of sites
was among a series of requests made to
police in Portugal by British detectives
working on the case, according to
reports.
Mr Rowley said he had discussed the case
with his opposite number in Portugal and
highlighted the "high levels of
interest" the activity would generate in
the British media.
He said Portuguese police did not
provide the media with updates on
ongoing investigations.
Activity would cease if police in
Britain gave out information or news
reporters caused any disruption to their
work in Portugal, he added.
Mr Rowley said the Portuguese
authorities had been "more bureaucratic
and slower" at processing requests than
his team had wished.
But he asked the media to respect their
requests as they carried out the work.
"We do not want to undermine our
prospects of providing Mr and Mrs McCann
with answers in this tragic case," he
said.
Seventh anniversary
It comes after the seventh anniversary
of Madeleine's disappearance was marked
on Saturday.
Gerry McCann, Madeleine's father,
expressed his family's gratitude that
the Metropolitan Police team was now
moving on to a "very active" phase in
its investigation. |
