Today, Thursday 22 May, Assistant
Commissioner
Mark Rowley, head of Specialist
Crime and Operations, met with media
at New Scotland Yard to update them
on Operation Grange, the London
based investigation into the
disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
All UK based media outlets were
represented at the meeting, as well
as media organisations from
Portugal, America, and others.
The meeting was held to outline the
Metropolitan Police Service position
in relation to the ongoing
investigation given the speculation
and numerous stories that have been
running for the past few weeks. AC
Rowley confirmed that in the coming
weeks there would be specific police
activity in Portugal led at all
times by the Portuguese authorities
(under the auspices of an
International Letter of Request or
‘Rogatory letter’), with officers
from the Metropolitan Police Service
working alongside.
Following a meeting with the media
Assistant Commissioner Rowley said:
"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."
AC Rowley issued a letter to media
on 6
May 2014 stating that the advice
he was receiving from Portugal was
that their approach to media
handling was different and they do
not brief the media on current
investigations.
They clearly stated that if the MPS
provide any briefings or information
on the work they are undertaking on
our behalf, or if reporters cause
any disruption to their work in
Portugal activity will cease until
that problem dissipates.
Assistant Commissioner Rowley
reiterated that position today:
"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.”
