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Madeleine McCann: Top officer pledges that hunt for missing girl will continue apace
20:43, 14 May 2015 By Tom Pettifor
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Met Police Commissioner, reacted angrily to concerns raised by the Police Federation about the millions devoted to the case
The search for Madeleine McCann is “moving on a pace” and will not end until all avenues are exhausted, Britain’s top police officer said today.
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, reacted angrily to concerns raised by the Police Federation about the millions of pounds of public money devoted to the case.
He said: “It’s not for them to decide which investigation we carry out, it’s my decision. This investigation is funded by the government and the only thing that will decide whether or not it continues are the chances of success in finding that girl.
"It’s really for me and not a [Police] Federation issue.”
Portuguese prosecutor Ines Sequeira said she was determined to crack the case when she took it over last October, bringing fresh hope to Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry.
Sir Bernard said of the investigation: “It’s moving on apace at the moment in terms of the relationship with the Portuguese and that is to be welcomed. As long as there’s a basis for doing the investigation we will continue.”
He said the Prime Minister David Cameron and Home Secretary Teresa May support the investigation.
Madeleine was just three when she went missing from her family’s Algarve holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on May 3 2007 as Kate and Gerry, sat at a nearby tapas restaurant with friends.
Portuguese police closed their investigation in 2008 but the Metropolitan Police launched their own inquiry, codenamed Operation Grange, three years later.
Sir Bernard was responding to concerns raised by John Tully, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, who said in March: “It’s time to re-focus on what we need to do to keep London safe.
"We no longer have the resources to conduct specialist inquiries all over the world which have nothing to do with London.
“The Met has long been seen as the last resort for investigations others have struggled with elsewhere. It is surprising to see an inquiry like the McCann investigation ring-fenced. I’ve heard a few rumblings of discontent about it from lots of sources."
He added: “When the force is facing a spike in murder investigations, it’s not surprising there is resentment of significant resources diverted to a case that has no apparent connection to London.”
Operation Grange has cost almost £8million. More than £100,000 has been spent on the transport of British authorities to and from Portugal. The money comes from a special Home Office fund.
