Madeleine McCann case: PM criticised for calling in Metropolitan police

[EliB]

Listened to a programme on BBC Iplayer today - Victoria Derbyshire interviewing Kate and Gerry McCann, originally broadcast at the beginning of May.
Was really interesting to note how much MORE media savvy they've both become....VD asked them directly what they'd say to people who still say they shouldn't have left the children alone - neatly batted away by Gerry who said  the real focus should on an "innocent wee girl who's missing" (conveniently ignoring the indisputable FACT that she wouldn't BE missing if they hadn't left them alone!!!) and when asked why Madeleine's case seemed to gather more attention from media and subsequently the public than any other missing child, Kate equally neatly batted that away, by saying that ALL missing children should get that kind of attention (how many parents can afford Max Clifford??)

Talk about well-rehearsed stock answers to these questions.....you could almost see them reading the agreed party line...

I listened to the interview mostly because of the discussion on here, to see if it'd help me change my mind about the McCanns - all it did was reinforce my view off them!!

[JJ]

So how is a bad view of the McCann going to help anyone or anything?

What happened happened.  Not all children are at risk when they are left unwatched for a while.  All parents do it.  That's a normal part of life. It's not normal to assume that there is a child snatcher behind every door or wall.  There isn't.  That's why there are parks and paths and playgrounds and ice cream vans for children to run to alone - children freely move and grow when they have normal parents.  People leave the back door open, back gardens are open to the road or fields often - not all people live behind locked doors all the time.  It's the child snatcher that is at fault - not the Mc Canns. 

[tranchiebabe]

Most good parents don't leave their very young children unattended whilst they are wining and dining a good distance away.

[AndyHB]

I do believe that reviewing 'old' cases such as these now and again can help the police/social workers/etc. by prompting them to ensure that 1) all suggested recommendations are in place, and 2) that any lessons learned from other cases in the mean time, or new research in general are applied to new cases.  Often, regardless of our profession, we can become blase and forget lessons we have already learned - even if they are theoretically enshrined in law or in official practice.  New members of the profession come into post without the historic knowledge that led to these practices and - can - ignore them.

[JJ]

I agree. It's what I've been saying all along in this thread.

[administrator]

Most good parents don't leave their very young children unattended whilst they are wining and dining a good distance away.

I agree, they are guilty of neglect, but equally most people are not involved in abductions and child trafficking either, which is most probably the crime that was committed on that day.
There is a chance that Madeleine could have been taken, even if the parents had been in the apartment.

[tranchiebabe]

An outside chance she might have been abducted when the parents were home. But it wasn't only the possibility of abduction that made them neglectful, what if the children had woken up and needed them for whatever reason? It is possible the little girl went to look for her parents and was abducted from outside the apartment. Apparently a babysitting service was available, why on earth didn't they avail themselves of it?

[ecuworrier]

I agree. It's what I've been saying all along in this thread.

cool then please explain to me why when the police are facing cuts should resources be taken away from this country at considerable expense to deal with an isolated case within the context of protugal?  where the policing seemed well...

would it not have been better to focus on a more current case here in UK ... for the benefit of local response to these situations... OR focus on a case in a country where british children have a habit of disappearing?  there are a few i'm sure and i'm pretty sure that the coverage is a little more silent....

the point is why not maximise resources to effect..

explain the political advantage ie the real benefits to the people who are paying for it ... me like i said above... as far as i am concerned news international can play theri heroism games they benefit from all the stories they do... and as i am paying for a test case for the police i would personally prefer either a UK based case or .. an overseas incident that has direct consequences for the many ....am i stupid or what

GOD BLESS!

Peace and Love,

[AndyHB]

explain to me why when the police are facing cuts should resources be taken away from this country at considerable expense to deal with an isolated case within the context of protugal?  where the policing seemed well...

would it not have been better to focus on a more current case here in UK ... for the benefit of local response to these situations... OR focus on a case in a country where british children have a habit of disappearing?  there are a few i'm sure and i'm pretty sure that the coverage is a little more silent....

ecu, Spain and Portugal are possibly the most popular destinations for Brits to go for holidays, so there are likely to be as many abductions from one of these countries as anywhere else.  To review how our police liaise with such police forces is therefore important especially since their policing seems rather ... (as you put it) - after all, it isn't only abductions that they might be involved in.

I'm not sure of the figures, but a large amount of work carried out by UK police actually impacts on cases that exist elsewhere.  As we become an ever-increasing global village, so more and more international crime impacts on us and our neighbours.

[JJ]

Exactly AHB, one of my points was about the police having an opportunity to discover international trafficking routes and the possible habits of abductors abroad.  Getting a worldwide picture that fits with similar cases all over the world would help.

[tranchiebabe]

Does anyone really believe the little girl is still alive?

[AndyHB]

Does anyone really believe the little girl is still alive?

If she was trafficked into the Middle East or somewhere further East, she might well be.

[AndrewF]

"Not all children are at risk when they are left unwatched for a while.  All parents do it.  That's a normal part of life. "
It all depends on the circumstances. Of course you don't watch them every minute of the day, but in a public building (or even a hotel) you keep a closer eye on them than when they are in your own home - and you should certainly (at that age) have a baby monitor active if they are out of 'normal' ear-shot. what if she had woken and needed a parent?
Sorry, but the MacCanns were at fault, not just the person who kidnapped her. At the very least, they made it easy for him.

[EliB]

Sorry, but the MacCanns were at fault, not just the person who kidnapped her. At the very least, they made it easy for him.

Totally agree!!!!
Whilst in a Waterstone's branch last week, I flicked through a copy of Kate McCann's latest money spinner - certainly no intention of buying it, but was curious. It showed an aerial view of the restaurant to the apartment - and the very obvious street and hedging between the two....HOW they have got away with the "they were in sight" argument is waaaaaay beyond me!!
If they had been 'joe public' and not  "professional" (supposedly intelligent(???) well heeled folk they'd have been prosecuted even for the sheer neglect - but money and connections buys a lot!!

[tranchiebabe]

I agree. I think they should have been prosecuted for neglect of three very young children.