Madeleine McCann: What We Paid The Police And Fraud
MADDIE WATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann, Kate McCann and Gerry McCann
Can you put a price on a missing child? Yes.
LIVERPOOL ECHO: Police spent £500k on Madeleine McCann case
BRITISH police spent more than half a million pounds assisting the Portuguese investigation into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance. Leicestershire police’s part in the search for the missing little girl cost £548,477 in 2007-08, the force said.
Is the amount of money important?
But it was reimbursed for most of this amount thanks to a home office grant of £525,069.
A child went missing in a foreign country and the British taxpayer paid… How come?
DAILY RECORD: “Teenagers pocketed Madeleine McCann collection cash”
TWO teenagers who carried out a door-to-door collection for missing Madeleine McCann pocketed the cash.
Gareth Trainer, 19, and Dale Armstrong, 16, managed to get hold of just £4 before police were called in.
Not much money. Not much money at all.
Good job, then, that crime is not means tested - that the taxpayer pays into the big pot and the police decide how best the money spent.
Would you give money to the Maddy Fund now?
Are the police still looking?
Posted: 14th, February 2009 | In: Madeleine McCann, Media Comments (76) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
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March 16th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
who’s the amsterdam strangers? how much money is leicester going to pay, and the tax payers, that can always accept donations, and use it or put the money back into their pocket, but most importantly can find a child named madeleine mccann, who very much tried to tell an adult, she was stolen from her parents and needed the police, needed help from the amsterdam shop owner, and amsterdam police, and amsterdam queen. Why couldn’t one queen help another and find one’s little girl, I don’t know, uncaring or many excuses, which is just that and excuse, I’m from america and we’d call it common sense to call the police. And to not is evil and uncaring and the person is probably involved. maybe one queen can help another and will especially if she reads something about it. No offense gotta use people in the best way possible to make good happen not bad when they just sit on their rear and make theirselves look guilty as the kidnappers. The daily mirror did good I just have one complalint from america usa, Oklahoma cherokee nation, it’s why does the headline have did they snatch maddie? When the child clearly stated, said THEY TOOK ME FROM MY MUMMY. obviously they snatched her. Why fill the heads of people with doubt then show them how stupid you are to help but not to help. Filling their heads is not help.
February 21st, 2009 at 1:06 am
I certainly am. I am working on the costume now. I am going dressed as a giant cuddle cat. That should shake them up.
February 21st, 2009 at 12:51 am
Was going to suggest you leave it in a pub for few days,but the pungent aroma has gone now….would the dog sleep on it?
February 21st, 2009 at 12:47 am
Nah, you’re not going to join the “March” too, are you?
Use a lighter……
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7p1p66v8k8&feature=related
February 20th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Does anyone know how to get the smell of mothballs out of a duffel coat?
February 20th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Ah the humour is is on me now boy, the humour is on me now….
February 20th, 2009 at 1:19 am
Hi Maria, looks like I missed you again, sorry.
Glad you love cats, I’m sure you’ll have fun when they wake you in the middle of the night to praise them for what they’ve brought into the house
Re the inquest, you could be right also. If it was my child that was missing I would welcome a full public enquiry too. Unless it could harm the search for my child. So I can imagine they would welcome it too. Wouldn’t that be interesting to watch, two parties with different views about what happened, joining forces and aiming for the same goal?
However it looks like people who ask for information seem to be turned down because of “national security”. I think Brandon posted the link [thanks Brandon].
This could be a ‘polite’ way of telling them ‘non of your business’ or there’s something going on that we’re not aware off [we could do a pretty good guess though].
And NO you are NOT going to look out for the dark glasses, you are going to take care of my house, my dog and cats. Not sure where I’ll put mrT in the meantime, but I’m sure we can work something out. When Doris posts the date, we’ll make arrangements about the swap.
Re the BTW wasn’t that about the request to charge them for neglect? You could be right though!
We’ll keep in touch! Bye bye.
February 19th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Looks like the comments have been removed from John Clements’ blogs now.
I hope he continues to post his own observations and comments though. It made a refreshing change.
February 18th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Thanks Brandon
I’ll bet the Mirror Editor’s having nightmares now they’ve opened up that can of worms again. Aren’t they risking the wrath of Clarrie?
I’m really surprised they’re allowing so many comments. Remember the old days of their forum? Then the more recent ones when it was locked?
It’s only a matter of time before the trolls start up so I hope they have a quick-fingered moderator.
February 18th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
yampster, Rasputin singing in the wilderness?
I think I need a very large jug of wine…
February 18th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
And their taking comments
February 18th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Welcome to my new blog, Anything You Say… where I’ll be giving you the background to the crime, cops and cases which hit the headlines.
As the Mirror’s crime correspondent, I’m often out on patrol for stories at Scotland Yard and the Old Bailey and will keep you updated with my progress.
Hopefully, I’ll be able to pass on some guidance and gossip from the world of law enforcement with videos and photographs.
And if you think there some facts that I should be chasing down email me or leave details in the comments box below and I’ll launch an investigation.
Later today I’ll let you know about an intriguing development in the Madeleine McCann case….
February 18th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/anything-you-say/2009/02/out-on-patrol.html
February 18th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Who was listening to Kate and Gerry McCann ?
By Jon Clements on Feb 18, 09 02:55 PM in
ariel_view.jpg
A few days ago I received an interesting letter from Leicestershire police about the Madeleine McCann investigation.
I had asked them, in July, if they had got any warrants (under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act) to use surveillance powers - such as phone tapping and email interception on behalf of the Portuguese police.
The force initially stalled saying it needed to “consult other Agencies” before replying.
After a six month delay, Leicestershire has now claimed it is exempt from Freedom of Information laws in this case due to “national security”.
I’ve put in dozens of FoI requests to police forces over the years, some you get and some you don’t but “national security” is a new one on me.
To make matters even murkier, Leicestershire claimed a second exemption because the information I requested could relate to “the Security bodies”.
A quick look at the FoI Act reveals “Security bodies” are MI5, MI6, GCHQ (pictured above), special forces (such as the SAS) and the Serious Organised Crime Agency.
Hmm.
Despite claiming these exemptions, Leicestershire seem at pains to neither confirm nor deny they hold any information relevant to my request anyway.
Check out (slowly I suggest) the tortuous conclusion to the three page letter explaining their stance.
“It is our decision that the Leicestershire Constabulary must maintain a position of neither confirming nor denying that any relevant information is held and that this response, which neither confirms nor denies that information is held, should not be taken as conclusive evidence that the information you have requested exists or does not exist”.
Thanks, but I think that is a rather long-winded way of saying Foxtrot Oscar.
However, it does beg the question just who was bugging the McCanns after they returned from Praia da Luz ? And what has the answer got to do with national security
February 18th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
PeterMac, if they are found guilty, won’t it be the police who do all the investigations? Does that mean the fund money will go to our government or the PJ? Or, should the fund managers pay for private detectives with it?
February 18th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
The Moving Finger stirs; and, having stirred, moves on
Timely CPR there from Rasputin in transit
February 18th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Am hearing from Lagos the Rebelo has serious problems with the Smith sighting and the apparent credibility given to it by Amaral, with Smith’s lack of certainty as to whom he actually saw if anyone. This in comparison to the certainty of the taxi drivers statement and the lack of proper investigation into his claims.
February 18th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Bat E Bird Says:
“PeterMac, you’ve just made me think - what will happen to the money if they go to prison?”
The purpose of the fund iincludes
“1.1.2 To procure that Madeleine’s abduction is thoroughly investigated and that her abductors, as well as those who played or play any part in assisting them, are identified and brought to justice; ”
So the fund should firstly be used to thoroughly investigate the claim that Madeleine was abducted, and then, in the unlikely event that the McCs went to prison for fraud, wasting police time, concealment of.. etc etc, it could be used to investigate the Tapas 7 for their part in the same alleged offences, and Clarries part for giving misleading information and thereby assisting alleged offencers …
All highly unlikely and IMHO, and obviously not going to happen. Sadly.
edited to correct name
February 18th, 2009 at 1:30 am
Hi Totje,
Looked in hoping to saying a proper “Good bye”.
…….and I LOVE cats! No worries!
I suspect you are exactly right about what’s being proposed, although I have mixed feelings about it. Recent weeks have shown us only too many desperate examples in the UK of the deficiencies in our social care systems. Any spare cash urgently needs to go to those it can really help, such as the many seriously-at-risk children in our communities. Few would blame the Mcs if they welcomed a full public enquiry to supplement their own private investigations; after all, it’s their child who is missing. But when do we have to recognise financial reality?
We’ll see. I don’t think I’d reject an enquiry if it was actually offered on a plate even though there are so many other serious calls on the public purse.
I’ll definitely look out for the seriously dark glasses among the marchers! Don’t trip up!
Bowing out for another six months now!
Take care.
BTW, wasn’t it here that that inquest was requested? Leicestershire? Maybe I’m misremembering.
February 17th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Hi Maria, glad to see you’re back for a moment, pity I missed you.
We can do a swap, off course we can, I’ll tell mr-no-longer-a-puppy to behave.
But there’s some cats who like attention too.
Loads of things to do/visit over here and lovely forests too, great to have a long (or short) walk.
Serious now. I think (is Anorak editing a name? just in case, I’ll keep it ’safe’) C&C’s Chesty already asked the Portuguese to do an inquest and it was turned down (seems they don’t do them over there?).
But I agree it would look rather strange if the UK started it without Portuguese involvement/approval.
It happened in Portugal, both countries (police forces) worked together on the case, Portugal was leading the investigation and decided there was no evidence of any crime committed by any of the three arguido’s. Most files are in Portugal (and in Portuguese). Lots of people think there’s enough money spend on the investigation, enough is enough, there’s a recession going on, other children need help too, other criminals need to be caught. So as long as there are no new leads, there’s no new investigation. That’s it imo. Sounds harsh, I know, but I doubt this enquiry would help Madeleine.
Not so serious now : no sunglasses? But I need them, I meant the ones with the very dark glasses, to blurr my sight. I’ve seen a picture of you-know-whom that nearly gave me an fit. And yes, the Darwin thread gave me some good laughs too
Bye, for now, nite nite all
P.S. : Anorak changed the font again! Grr can hardly read it. Could you please change it back to how it was? Thanks.
February 17th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Doris (49) That’s sweet of you , but unneccessary. Still got some GBP in a drawer (why do we allways forget to exchange the money when we get back? Still got loads of French francs, Austria shillings, etc. even Guilders and can’t use them anymore).
But I confess I DO need help crossing a street, I tend to forget you drive on the wrong side of the street
February 17th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
thatpoorpriest , yes will do if they let me post it x
February 17th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Yes indeed, it does help, thank you, Doris.
As to your other point, it all depends who is meant by “the Portuguese”, I suppose.
Happy rest-of-2009 to all.
May see you all in London if Totje doesn’t want to do the swap!
Bye.
February 17th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
will you tell us the date and details Doris??
February 17th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
The Portugese know and welcome this , xx will be there , does that help ?
February 17th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
The Portugese know and welcome this , ***edit*** will be there
February 17th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Hi Totje!
Please can I do a swap then and spend a couple of days in your place?!
It’s not that I don’t agree with a full public enquiry. I’d be delighted to see one. Long overdue, in my opinion. (Bet the Mcs would agree as well. In fact, if Doris invited them along, there really WOULD be a good crowd because they always get the sympathy vote.) It’s just that I feel that a lot of people might think enough taxpayers’ money has already been spent on this. I seem to recall the Mcs saying something to that effect themselves, though possibly more with reference to Portugal. That’s another thing. How will the Portuguese react? May not be too pleased at the suggestion that they’ve done things so badly that a fresh enquiry is needed. Govt might feel it has to tread warily on this one.
So I’m just not too sure how successful this lobbying will be.
All in all, I think I’ll do the swap with you. Please could you leave me a list of interesting things to do in your locality? (I’ll be very careful in your home AND look after the dog.)
Good luck with the march! Hope it’s successful.
PS Don’t bother with the sunglasses. You are soooo not going to need them! (Unless they’re just so you won’t be recognised?)
PPS Will +++edit+++ be there, or will he be demonstrating against evolution at the Darwin exhibition? Never sure which of his pet causes is uppermost at any one time!
February 17th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Totje , if you are coming I shall pay your fare !
February 17th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
June see above post , we are going into parliament , and yes the song is the anthem for the day
February 17th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I thought there had been a march on Downing Street already and a petition handed in?
But as for an enquiry surely Leics Police have spent upwards of £500k on the investigation already?
February 17th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Thank you, C&C; a forgotten gem…
The ‘You poured Sugar over Me’ track looks interesting, but we need ade for the lowdown on this sort of stuff…