CEOP RESPONSIBILITY FOR MISSING CHILDREN INCLUDING MADDIE MCCANN

Missing Children

Choose an article from the list or read all our articles ordered by date below the list:

• CEOP - Missing Children Lead
• Missing Children UK
• CEOP To Take The Lead On Services

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CEOP - Missing Children Lead

From 1July 2011 the Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre will take on the responsibility as lead agent for missing children in the UK.

CEOP will bring together the UK's first team of experts dedicated to searching for missing and abducted children. It is estimated that as many as 100 thousand children go missing in the UK each year.

Part of the role within the new initiative will be the development of expert training for professionals dealing in this difficult area of social work and policing.

There is an expectation that the organisation will take on high profile cases. In May 2011 the Prime Minister pledged support for the ongoing Madeleine McCann investigation and ordered detectives from the Met' to step-up their investigation. In fact, our source tells us that it will be the CEOP's responsibility to review and carry out the McCann Investigation.

Madeleine McCann Went Missing on 3rd May 2007

Madeleine McCann disappeared on the evening of Thursday, 3rd May 2007. She was on holiday with her parents and twin siblings in Portugal. The 4 year old went missing from an apartment, in the central area of the resort of Praia da Luza and has still not been found. Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, have said that they left the children unsupervised in a ground floor bedroom while they ate at a restaurant a short distance away. The initial investigation by the Portuguese criminal investigation police, was based on the assumption that Madeleine had probably been abducted. After further investigation, the Police stated that there was a strong hypothesis that she might have died in her room, but could give no evidence to support this. During the investigation there were a number of unconfirmed claimed sightings of Madeleine in Portugal and elsewhere, and additional scientific evidence was obtained. The investigation involved the co-operation of the British and Portuguese police.

Madeleine McCann disappeared on the evening of Thursday, 3 May 2007. She was on holiday with her parents and twin siblings in Portugal. The 4 year old went missing from an apartment, in the central area of the resort of Praia da Luza and has still not been found. Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, have said that they left the children unsupervised in a ground floor bedroom while they ate at a restaurant a short distance away. The initial investigation by the Portuguese criminal investigation police, was based on the assumption that Madeleine had probably been abducted. After further investigation, the Police stated that there was a strong hypothesis that she might have died in her room, but could give no evidence to support this. During the investigation there were a number of unconfirmed claimed sightings of Madeleine in Portugal and elsewhere, and additional scientific evidence was obtained. The investigation involved the co-operation of the British and Portuguese police.

On 7th September 2007 the parents were named as suspects, but were allowed to fly back to the United Kingdom. They were subsequently cleared, on 21 July 2008.

If Madeleine is found living with a family and that the parents were unaware of the 'abduction' status of 'their' child it would follow that they could apply to an English court for contact to Madeleine. Obviously if such an application was accepted then a full report would be ordered and the reporting officer, in line with the 1989 Children Act, must take into account the child's wishes. Madeleine could well be saying that she wanted contact.

Four years on there is still no tangible evidence leading to Madeleine’s whereabouts.

If you have any knowledge that may help please contact your local police or you can contact My Child Contact in anonymity here.

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Missing Children UK

        

Name: Madeleine McCann                                  Madeleine has a blemish in her right eye's iris.

Gender: Female

Nationality: British

Date Missing: Thursday 3rd May 2007

The Following pictures show Madeleine as she may be in 2011.

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Ceop to take the lead on services for missing children

By Janaki Mahadevan Wednesday, 25 May 2011

A team of experts from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop) is to lead a national response to the issue of missing children, the government has announced.

Peter Davies: 'We will put into the hands of any investigation our collective specialism to reach rapid and effective conclusions'. Image: Ceop

From 1 July a dedicated team from the centre will be tasked with working with police, child protection bodies and non-governmental organisations to ensure suitable arrangements are in place to protect vulnerable children.

Making the announcement on International Missing Children’s Day, crime and security minister James Brokenshire said the group will also provide preventative support through products and training for children and professionals as well as operational support to local police forces.

"Around 230,000 missing children reports are made in the UK every year," he said. "The risks children are exposed to are severe and the harm they suffer can be very serious so it is crucial we can act quickly. Ceop's new responsibility for national missing children's services means they can bring their significant child protection expertise to tackle this important issue."

Ceop will provide support to the police through resources such as the Child Rescue Alert system and the MissingKids website. It will also aim to ensure arrangements are in place to co-ordinate the collective response to complex cases of missing and abducted children.

Peter Davies, chief executive of Ceop, said: "Partnership will be our key theme. We will look to learn, analyse and contribute our expertise to the wider policing community; we will work with children and parents to raise awareness of the risks and the options and we will put into the hands of any investigation our collective specialism to reach rapid and effective conclusions.

"We will also work to ensure the causes of children going missing are understood and addressed after their return."

Martin Houghton-Brown, chief executive of charity Missing People, said Ceop's new role will help ensure the safety of thousands of children.

"We are delighted that Ceop will be joining the frontline of services to help find and protect missing children," he said "Their expertise in safeguarding vulnerable children and extensive work in education will help to ensure the safety of thousands of young people."

http://www.mychildcontact.com/p/Missing_Children.php

GOOD NEWS FOR KATE AND GERRY?

Police officers can arrest people for serious offences if they have reasonable grounds to do so.   One of the reasons for arresting them is to conduct a tape recorded interview so that they can get further evidence from that interview.  Of course there are clever defendants like Kate and Gerry McCann.  She refused to answer all incriminating questions and he purported to answer most of them but in reality he did not, he just denied things etc.  

In a serious case the police may think they have sufficient evidence to charge, but they have to seek the professional opinion of Crown Prosecutors as to whether they do have a sufficient case in law meaning in all probability they will win it.  Quite often they are told, well no actually that is not a very good case, you need more evidence.  So typically what do the police do when they have already arrested and questioned a suspect but do not, at that stage, have sufficient evidence to actually charge them?  They bail them to a date by which time they will have conducted further investigations, this is often in a month's time but may be less in a serious case.  

When the police actually have someone in custody there are strict time limits as to how long they can hold them without charging them, typically 36 hours but this can be escalated beyond that by an application to the court.  

At no stage has it ever been considered that that time period has anything at all to do with the length of time a suspect may be placed on police bail (i.e. he is no longer being held, but must report back to the police on a specific date otherwise he is in breach of his bail conditions, a criminal offence.  But now, a lowest level criminal judge, a District Judge in the Magistrates Court has ruled that the time on bail counts as time holding the suspect and therefore you cannot apply for any more, if you bailed him for a month your maximum 96 hours has long since ran out.  This has been upheld on appeal to the Divisional Court.  It is like a charter for murderers and rapists to get one over on the hard pressed police trying to build a case.  The only way they can re-arrest is if there is "further evidence".  This kind of rings bells with what the Portuguese Police were saying and we know that in Portugal there is much greater emphasis on the Human Rights of the suspect that in UK.  Well usually and if the government get their way as to how judges are supposed to interpret the law.  

I am sure this drastic decision will be overruled by the Home Secretary either through further appeal, new legislation or having expert legal advice as to how it can be got around, but in the meantime, all those thugs on bail cannot be recalled to the police station, they just get away with it.  

I think it is high time our Judges got reminded of whose side they are supposed to be on, they are not there to be pedantic and play at law, they are there to promote justice and look after victims of crime.  

So do not get too excited yet Gerry, it is a bad decision and Theresa May will sort it and you!   But do not expect your arrest until they have dotted all the i's and crossed all the t's without giving you the slightest sniff of what they know about you and your mates and what you did to little Maddie.  Viv x

Warning 'rapists and killers will walk free' after judge rules that suspects must be charged or released after 96 hours

• Suspects could only be re-arrested 'if new evidence comes to light
• ACPO labels court decision 'bizarre'
• Confusion reigns as officers try to work out implications of ruling

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Last updated at 6:56 PM on 29th June 2011

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Home Secretary Theresa May said the Government were looking to appeal the decision which could have huge ramifications for the criminal justice system

Tens of thousands of murderers, rapists and violent criminals could escape prosecution following a 'bizarre' legal ruling.

A judge ruled police must charge a suspect within four days or release them without charge.

They must no longer be freed on bail - and can only be recalled for further questioning later if new evidence comes to light.

The surprise decision, handed down by a judge at Salford Magistrates' Court has been backed by the High Court.

Police chiefs have been left baffled by the ruling and both the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) and the Crown Prosecution Service are currently considering the ramifications for forces across England and Wales.

Home Secretary Theresa May said: 'I think this is a matter of great concern.

'We're working with Acpo at the moment and looking at a number of possibilities as to how we can advise the police on this issue.

'There may be an opportunity to appeal this decision.

'We are also looking at whether or not it's necessary to introduce legislation in order to deal with this issue.

'We are conscious of the concerns this judgment has brought in terms of operational policing.'

Officers are only able to hold a suspect for 96 hours before charging or releasing them.

The district judge in Salford ruled for the first time that the detention clock continues to run while the suspect is on bail from the police station.

In the case Paul Hookway, a murder suspect, was first arrested on November 7 last year.

A superintendent granted permission for him to be detained for up to 36 hours for questioning, but he was released on bail after about 28 hours.

Five months later, on April 5, police applied to the courts to extend the period of detention from 36 hours to the maximum allowed of 96 hours.

But the district judge refused the application, saying that the time limit had expired months ago.

Greater Manchester Police applied to the High Court for a judicial review of the case, but Mr Justice McCombe upheld the district judge's decision on May 19 and refused leave to appeal.

The force is now seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court.

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Assistant Chief Constable Andy Adams, Acpo's lead spokesman on custody issues, said: 'The decision in this case has the potential for a wide-reaching impact and Acpo has significant concerns as to the effect it will have on policing.

'We are working with the Home Office to seek to reduce any immediate impact before the expedited hearing at the Supreme Court.

Sir Norman Bettison, chief constable of West Yorkshire Police, said: 'This means unless this is overturned police can no longer put anyone out on bail for more than 96 hours without either being in a position to charge or release.

'It's on the verge of a disaster now because the question being asked by my custody sergeants is, "What do we do, boss?"

'I cannot countenance turning people away from the charge office and telling them all bets are off and they are free to go.'

Fury: Sir Norman Bettison, Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police, left, said they were 'on the verge of disaster' following the Magistrates' Court decision upheld by Mr Justice McCombe, right, in the High Court

He went on: 'We are running round like headless chickens this morning wondering what this means to the nature of justice.

'My holding position with my officers is that I can't believe this is what was envisioned.

'We are awaiting advice from the CPS.

'The early indications are that until this matter is appealed or new legislation is passed the issue of putting people on bail for further questioning when they answer their bail is pretty much a dead duck.

'We are waiting, as the rest of the world is, for the best advice from the best legal minds. It's a mess.'

RELEASED ON BAIL?

Suspects in serious cases are routinely held for up to 96 hours.

Although normally people can only be kept in police custody for 24 hours, for more serious offences a police superintendent can extend the period by a further 12 hours.

Officers can then apply to a Magistrates Court for up to 96 hours.

After that point the suspect must either be charged, released or released on bail and recalled at a later date.

The High Court have ruled that suspects can no longer be bailed - and must be charged or released.

They can only be re-arrested for the same crime again if new evidence comes to light.

In light of the decision, the situation is currently under review.

Sir Norman added he was telling his officers to continue working as they have always worked, ensuring no suspect spends more than a maximum of 96 hours actually in custody, until further guidance was issued.

About 4,260 suspects are currently on bail from his force alone - which represents about 5 per cent of the police service - meaning about 85,200 people are on bail at any one time, he said.

James Welch, legal director for the civil rights group Liberty, said: 'Being out on bail pending investigation is not the equivalent of being detained.

'Limits on the time that suspects can be held in police custody are necessary but there are good reasons why the police should be allowed to bail suspects for more than 96 hours.

'If this decision cannot be appealed legislation should be introduced to clarify the law.

'This would also be an opportunity to introduce safeguards into the system and to extend the regime to include terror suspects and end the scandal of punishment without trial.'

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the issue was 'a matter of grave concern for police across the country'.

'They have suddenly been told they may not be able to recall suspects who are out on police bail for further questioning, an ID parade or other investigation unless there is new evidence in place,' she said.

'Because it seems this has immediate effect, it will disrupt vital ongoing investigations and hugely hamper the police in their job.

'Police officers I have spoken to are deeply alarmed at the implications for criminal cases they are working on right now.'

She went on: 'The Home Office have known about this judgment for six weeks.

'The Home Secretary needs to explain urgently what her legal advice says and what she will do to sort this problem and make sure thousands of ongoing investigations aren't lost.

'If the only answer is emergency legislation to temporarily restore the old arrangements until further work can be completed, then we stand ready to help the Home Secretary get this through.

'But the public and police need an urgent answer so important cases aren't put at risk.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2009477/Bail-crisis-court-rules-police-charge-release-suspects-FOUR-days.html#ixzz1QiBoBO66

TRACKING MADELEINE'S ABDUCTORS BY TRACKING THE GROUPS MOBILE PHONE DATA

With my compliments to "Bren" of the 3 Arguidos for this article which would otherwise no longer be available.  

This article needs reading rather carefully, it is talking about two different scenarios, the  accidental death of Madeleine or the abduction of Madeleine.  Read whose mobile phone data they were looking at to track Madeleine's "abductors".   Russell O'Brien was apparently getting legal advice via the McCann's lawyers, that is hardly surprising given he and Gerry were missing just as Maddie was apparently getting abducted.  

I hope people can move on from the apparent accidental death and start reading what has always been there, for those that want to see.  All theories deserved to be looked at and obviously the death of Madeleine was one that needed looking at, (parents often do that) but....it was always made plain the abduction scenario was also being looked at, particularly by Goncalo Amaral's replacement, Mr Rebelo.  

This talk of them moving Madeleine's body about several weeks later is just plain rubbish.  

Deleted Express Article

MADELEINE: GERRY AND KATE ‘STILL PRIME SUSPECTS’

Saturday December 1,2007

By Nick Fagge and David Pilditch in Praia da Luz

Kate and Gerry McCann are still regarded as the prime suspects in the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine despite inconclusive findings from DNA evidence.

Portuguese police will come to Britain next week to re-interview the seven friends who were dining with the couple on the night the little girl vanished, a highly placed source claimed yesterday.

It shatters the couple’s hopes that they will be cleared by Christmas.

Investigators say that while findings revealed at a DNA summit this week did not give them enough evidence to bring charges, they do provide the legal basis to demand further interviews of the McCanns’ friends and relatives on British soil.

Leaks in Portugal claim tests on DNA samples support Portuguese detectives’ theory that the couple were involved in Madeleine’s disappearance.

Portuguese daily newspaper 24 Horas reported that a police source said: “The existing evidence up until now is far from clearing the McCann couple in the case.

“There are more and more indicators that they were involved in the disappearance of the child, but it has been difficult to prove this fact. We will continue to follow all hypotheses.”

Investigators still cling to the theory that Madeleine died as the result of an accident in the family’s holiday flat in Praia da Luz, and that her parents hid and later disposed of the body with the help of their friends.

Respected Portuguese daily newspaper Correio da Manha reported: “The main theory is still the accidental death of the child on the afternoon of May 3, specifically in the two hours when the parents were alone with their children.

“That is when the McCanns say they gave her a bath and put the three children to bed before 8.30pm and then met their friends for dinner.”

Detectives are understood to be intrigued by “certain inconsistencies” in the statements made by the McCanns’ seven diningcompanions.

They also want to know who Kate was referring to when she cried “they’ve taken her” when she found Madeleine was missing. These are among “100 questions” detectives want to put to the McCanns and their friends, police sources claim.

Yesterday British ambassador Alex Ellis and Algarve official Angela Morado met Paulo Rebelo, who heads the investigation, and Portimao District Attorney Jose Magalhaes e Meneses at police headquarters in Faro.

The British Embassy in Lisbon said the timing was a coincidence but confirmed the McCann case had been discussed.

A team recently returned from the UK where it was told what the Forensic Science Services lab had learned from analysis of blood and hair found at the McCanns’ holiday apartment and in their hire car.

But yesterday sources close to the investigation said the tests “are only one of the pieces of the puzzle” and “other operations were being done”.

Yesterday Clarence Mitchell, the McCanns’ spokesman, said: “Kate and Gerry’s friends are happy to be reinterviewed by police if necessary, indeed are keen to help if it clears up any inconsistencies. They, like Gerry and Kate, have nothing to hide.”

The McCanns, both 39, of Rothley, Leics, were named as suspects on September 7. Gerry wrote in his blog yesterday of his hopes of being free of suspicion by Christmas.

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Transcription of the articles in the Sunday Express 2 December 2007.

Paper edition. With many thanks to Bouncy for typing this up.

A close friend of Kate and Gerry McCann who was holidaying with them when Madeleine vanished will be questioned by Portuguese police this week over a "mystery" phone call.

Dr Russell O'Brien, 36, has come under investigation after a team of telephone surveillance officers highlighted a mobile phone call made to the missing four-year-old's father just over a month after she disappeared.

Portuguese detectives now believe that a phone call between Gerry McCann, 39, and Dr O'Brien is the missing link in Madeleine's disappearance and could help find her body.

Investigators are focusing on the exact whereabouts of Dr O'Brien when the call was made on June 10.

Last night it was unclear exactly what was said during the debated call but it is understood that key words aroused police suspicions.

The development is a massive blow to the McCanns who had been led to believe they would be cleared of any involvement in their daughter's alleged death by Christmas.

A team of senior detectives are to fly to Britain after gaining official permission to re-interview certain members of the group, including Dr O'Brien. He has taken advice from a lawyer recommended by the McCann legal team.

The Sunday Express has learned Mr McCann told police the call, 38 days after Madeleine vanished, was made within 4km of the Mark Warner resort in Praia da Luz where the party were staying but technicians working on the mobile phone network have dismissed his claim after examining records.

It has also emerged that each member of the "Tapas Nine" was placed under surveillance after Brisitish communications experts arrived in the Algarve at the end of May.

A close friend of the group told how just weeks after Madeleine went missing, her parents and their friends had grown concerned they were being closely watched by Portuguese police.

He said: "Although they never officially thought they were under surveillance - Kate and Gerry were always cautious when making calls because they knew it was possible that somebody could be listening in.

"They were concerned that their phones could have been tapped or that the electronic traffic between them and their friends was being recorded"

Kate and Gerry, both 39, were named as "arguidos", formal suspects, in their daughter's disappearance on September 9.

They have not been charged but police let it be known they had evidence to indicate that Madeleine accidentally died in apartment 5A and her body was hidden for weeks before being moved in the boot of a Renault Scenic the family hired 25 days later.

British experts attempted to trace the movements of Madeleine's abductor by following a trail left by mobile telephone signals. The technique helped convict Ian Huntley for the murders of Holly wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in 2002.

Trails are created by silent transmissions sent by mobile phones even when not in use. These create a timed computer log of the handset's movement which can narrow down its location to an area as small as a few square yards.

Police analysts examining records of mobile phones belonging to the McCanns and their holiday group returned their findings to Portuguese prosecutors last week.

Detectives used the detailed information to "test" statements by guests and staff at the Ocean Club complex.

Last week, Portuguese officers arrived in Britain to talk to Leicestershire Police and British forensic experts about the implications of DNA results from tests at the Forensic Science Service's base in Birmingham.

Friends of the McCanns thought the summit indicated Madeleine's parents would be cleared as suspects after DNA evidence against them appeared to collapse, but last night it was clear there are still doubts about contradictions in the statements the group gave to police. Both Kate and Gerry McCann deny any involvement with Madeleine's disappearance but police still maintain the case against them does not rely on DNA results.

Dr O'Brien could also be named as an arguido. Last night a friend said: "If he faces a situation where the arguido status becomes an issue, it allows certain rights, like the right to have a lawyer present and the right to remain silent."

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Now hunt centres on disused barn

The hunt for Madeleine McCann last night centred on a disused barn near Praia da Luz where police found a towel stained with what may turn out to be the little girl's blood.

Fibres found on the towel allegedly match fibres from the hire car rented by Maddie's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann.

Portuguese detectives discussed the breakthrough when they met British police and a Crown Prosecution Service official last week at a police station in Leicester.

Today for the first time the Sunday Express can shed light on the new avenue plicie are pursuing in the hope of a breakthrough in the baffling case.

Based on fresh information from mobile phone surveillance police began a search of an area in the south east of the resort. They came across a towel, with an Aztec design, near a disused barn in a remote area close to Praia da Luz.

Portuguese sources say forensic scientists used a substance called Luminol to look for blood deposits and found three sites on the edges of the towel. They tested the blood deposits to see if there was a match for Madeleine's DNA.

Although the samples were not good quality the scientists were able to do what is called low copy analysis, which showed there was "moderate" support to suggest the blood deposits matched Madeleine's blood.

The results were not conclusive are not regarded as being strong enough to be presented as evidence in any court case.

They also found a loaf and a carrier bag, which produced no significant information, but close analysis of the towel revealed fibres which were not made of the towel material. The fibre fragments were microscopically examined against fibres found in the boot of the Renault Scenic hired by the McCanns 25 days after Maddie vanished.

Portuguese police said there was "strong support" that the fibres found on the towel matched fibres from the boot of the car.

One possibility being considered by the Portuguese detectives was that the towel had at some point been in the boot of the Renault Scenic, which would explain how fibres had got on it.

WHAT DO KATE AND GERRY TELL US BY THE LOOK ON THEIR FACES? SHE LOVES THIS MAN??

OR SHE LOVES MAKING MONEY OUT OF MADDIE JUST AS MUCH AS HIM? JUNE 2011 AMSTERDAM ON A BOOK PROMOTIONAL TOUR....SUDDENLY THIS PICTURE WENT WHOOSH CLUNK OFF THE DAILY EXPRESS, ODD THAT!