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Maddie: Archived process is going to be translated to be read by 30
British officers at the orders of David Cameron
by Luís Pontes
A team of 30 investigators from the Scotland Yard will begin to analyse
the whole process of the Portuguese Judiciary Police investigation in
relation to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, on May 3, 2007 in
Praia da Luz, Algarve.
“The investigation team consists of senior officers. They are very
experienced and will review all the steps taken by the Portuguese and
English authorities”, explained to the DN a source from Scotland Yard's
press office.
In the first phase, the work intends to dissect all the investigation
done on the field, the statements collected by the Judiciary Police
officers and the forensic evidence that was analysed in Portugal and in
the United Kingdom. According to a police source, they will also request
the full translation of all the Portuguese documentation.
In a second phase, the Scotland Yard might send their officers to
Portugal. “For that to happen an authorization from the Portuguese
authorities will be requested”, said the British police source.
The deputy director of the PJ, Pedro do Carmo, confirmed to DN that he
had direct knowledge, of the two times, of the interest of British
authorities to re-evaluate the investigation that was done in Portugal.
“We were contacted by the liaison officer from the British Embassy in
Lisbon and then we had a contact made by the Scotland Yard”, said Pedro
do Carmo to the DN.
According to the deputy director, the British authorities did not make
any additional requests.
“The
process is public
and can be accessed by anyone”, explains Pedro do Carmo. “The process is
formally archived, nevertheless the Judiciary Police still pays
attention to consistent and credible information that may arise. We are
open to all collaborations. We maintain an excellent relationship with
the Scotland Yard. They will have our full support”, stresses the
Judiciary Police deputy director.
The reopening of the criminal process belongs to the Public Ministry
tutelage and depends on any new fact considered as relevant. The British
authorities have not added anything to the process and, as such, as the
DN found, there is no request to reopen the case in the Prosecutor
General's Office [PGR].
The request to re-evaluate the investigation was prompted by the British
Prime Minister, David Cameron. “I confirm that information and therefore
we have the best investigators in the case who will work exclusively”,
stated a source from the Scotland Yard.
The review will involve thirty investigators and does not gather
consensus even amongst the British police.“The investigation will take
years and millions of pound will be spent”, said Jenny Jones, from the
Metropolitan Police Authority to the
Metro newspaper.
“There are hundreds of unsolved cases that don't have this kind of
support and the resources that are going to be diverted are necessary”,
she stated.
The new investigation ordered by David Cameron emerges a
week
later, after the McCann couple, who are committed in the launch
of the book 'Madeleine', sent a letter to the Prime Minister asking for
a review of the case. “We want an independent, transparent and full
review”, asked then Kate and Gerry McCann.
Before making public his decision, David Cameron informed the McCanns,
through a letter, of his request made to the Home Office (body which
oversees the Scotland Yard)
The investigation will be lead by the Detective Chief Inspector Andy
Redwood. This homicide investigator [Homicide and Serious Crime Command]
has chosen for his team experienced investigators who are close to the
end of their careers.
The new team will also meticulously analyse, besides the work of the
Portuguese, the performance of its own agents who were in Portugal
between May 2007 and July 2008.
According to a report published last year, in April, by the newspaper
'The Mirror', the British Home Office spent more than half a million
euros in the Maddie case. Just in air travels, during the 709 days that
Scotland Yard were in Portugal, 25.325 euros were spent. Each of the 126
low-cost trips costed an average of 129.20 euros to the British
taxpayers.
in Diário de Notícias, May 20, 2011, paper edition |
