British police CAN still solve Madeleine McCann mystery despite the problems of working with foreign forces

British police CAN still solve Madeleine McCann mystery despite the problems of working with foreign forces

Feb 08, 2014 00:00

OPINION BY LORD STEVENS

The former Met Commissioner has investigated high-profile deaths overseas and is aware of the hurdles Scotland Yard detectives face in Portugal

As Kate and Gerry McCann have found over the past seven years, the Portuguese criminal and judicial system is very different to what we are used to at home.

So much so that they found themselves being publicly named as suspects at an early stage of the investigation to find their missing daughter Madeleine.

British police are now trying to play catch-up and provide the thorough examination of the facts and evidence that appears to have been so badly mishandled back in 2007.

It is no wonder that the Portuguese police feel vulnerable about what they have – or haven’t – done in the past.

This makes the building of a strong relationship between the new teams involved so crucial to any successful progress in this case. It has to be a partnership and not a competition to see who makes the next breakthrough.

There are some positive signs that the Portuguese and Scotland Yard investigative teams are working together, but some difficulties remain. This week, for instance, it has been reported that they were investigating different targets.

When our police work overseas they do not have the power of arrest. They can advise and make a request but it has to be carried out for them. Every move needs to be sanctioned and supported by the local force.

This can be a very frustrating and time-consuming process but needs to be followed to the letter if any breakthrough is to be achieved. It also needs to be done properly if any subsequent prosecutions are to stand the best chance of success.

Apart from the cultural and language barriers, you should not underestimate the complexity and sensitivity of our police officers working with their colleagues from overseas. That is why police officers need to be skilled diplomats when on foreign soil.

They know they will only make progress if they work with the local force and respect the way they go about their work – even if it seems to be very slow and ponderous.

As I found with my inquiry into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, patience is needed by both home and overseas forces to build a partnership that can deliver results which stand the test of whichever country’s judicial system will be governing the investigation.

For example, getting some of the 600 plus evidential exhibits released for analysis back in England was just one of the obstacles we faced.

It took time, but we eventually got the agreement of the French authorities to go ahead and bring the crash car back to England.

This helped us conduct a complete reconstruction of the collision. The results proved hugely important in enabling a proper assessment to take place at the inquest in London.

But there can also be difficulties dealing with different forces closer to home.

During my inquiries into ­collusion and murder in Northern Ireland, my team came face to face with those responsible for the original investigations – some of whom had been accused of committing the crimes themselves.

It was little wonder that our work touched many raw nerves and sensitivities.

Gaining the confidence and trust of the local force, the victims and their families was crucial, while following the evidence wherever it took us.

This was not easy as we faced a concerted campaign to discredit the inquiry. It took more than 15 years and three linked inquiries to get to the bottom of what had been going on.

Determination got us through many difficult moments, including mental and physical pressures and threats.

Many courageous officers from the Royal Ulster Constabulary were keen to help us with our enquiries. However, some were very evasive and defensive.

We met walls of silence. Secret Intelligence records disappeared from files.

The safety and security of the team was forever uppermost in my mind. Especially when our offices burnt down one night. Mysteriously, the smoke alarms and heat sensors failed to go off and the telephone lines were cut.

Senior RUC officers blamed a secret unit in British military intelligence. To this day it has never been proven but I believe I know who was responsible.

As Metropolitan Police Commissioner, I was invited to send a team to Jamaica to investigate a shooting. The starting point here was gaining the support of their government for the professionals who would be doing the legwork.

The support and guidance of the Foreign Office, our High Commissioner and his team in Jamaica was crucial to making progress.

They put us on the right track with the right connections to steer the team through the local systems and structures. All of this takes a lot of time and patience.

With crime increasingly taking on an international dimension it is essential that police officers can get co-operation from the governments and police forces of every country – not just in Europe but across the whole world.

Scotland Yard has a long history of conducting investigations overseas and they know better than anyone how to get on with their foreign partners.

That is why the Home Secretary asked them back in 2011 to look in to the Madeleine McCann case to try and find out what happened to her.

It might appear painfully slow, but rest assured they will be doing all they can to give the family the answers they are looking for.

If anyone can solve this case... they can.


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