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pa.press.net - 01.05.2008 05:22
Kate and Gerry McCann's campaign for a Europe-wide missing child alert system has so far received less
than one third of the support it needs from Euro-MPs.
And as the first anniversary of Madeleine McCann's disappearance approaches, Conservative MEP Edward McMillan-Scott
renewed calls for support for a US-style "Amber Alert" network of fast-response warnings across borders when a child is believed
to have been abducted.
The McCanns visited the European Parliament last month, pleading for MEPs' support to get EU governments to
back the scheme.
A European Parliament declaration demanding a child alert system opened for signatures last week, but needs
the names of at least half the 785 MEPs before it has formal status as a resolution.
Even then it has no legal force - but a European Parliament resolution would put serious political and moral
pressure on the European Commission and EU governments to adopt legally-binding measures to increase the chances of finding
missing children.
So far the declaration has attracted 127 names, but needs at least 393 by the end of June.
A similar initiative failed to attract sufficient signatures two years ago - but the case of Madeleine McCann
is expected to tip the balance this time.
So far France is the only EU country which has an Amber Alert system, but its worth has been demonstrated
in America, where almost 400 children have been recovered, 80% within the crucial first 72 hours, since the system started
in 2003.
In Europe, an existing patchwork of partial national monitoring systems needs bolstering by closer cross-border
co-operation and data-sharing on child abduction, says the European Commission.
In France, a comprehensive system means French authorities can flash up electronic missing child information
on French motorway signboards within 30 minutes of a confirmed case of abduction.
Anniversary appeal is our last chance, say Kate and Gerry McCann Timesonline
David Brown
May 02, 2008 (First published online: May 01, 2008)
Kate and Gerry McCann admitted that their publicity drive this week was the "last chance" to promote the international
search for their missing daughter, Madeleine.
Their proposal to use the case to campaign for new warning systems for missing children suffered a setback
yesterday when it was effectively ruled out by senior police.
The McCanns, from Rothley, Leicestershire, expect interest in their daughter to wane after the first anniversary
tomorrow of her disappearance from the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia da Luz. Mr McCann, 39, said: "It's inevitable that
the spotlight and the intensity cannot stay the way it's been and we don't expect it. We will be dealing with the media in
a different way." The couple, both doctors, carried out several interviews yesterday after an ITV documentary in which they
appeared on Wednesday attracted an average audience of 4.1 million. "The last thing we would possibly ever want is for Madeleine
to become a statistic, a missing child who because of her young age may grow up in another environment and never be recovered,"
Mr McCann said.
Their hopes of campaigning for British police forces to adopt the American Amber Alert system of immediate
information broadcasts on missing children were knocked back yesterday. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Richard Bryan, who is
the Association of Chief Police Officers’ lead on missing people, said that British forces already operated an effective
"child rescue alert".
They want information from the PJ 24horas
Clarence Mitchell, gave an interview to Rádio Renascença
Text: Rita Coelho
01/05/2008 (Thanks to 'Li' from the3arguidos for translation)
The couple would like to have more details given by the PJ about the steps of the investigation concerning
the disappearance of their daughter, revealed yesterday the spokesman of the McCanns. "Kate and Gerry accept that they have
to work with the Portuguese police but they would like to have more information", said Clarence Mitchell in an interview to
Rádio Renascença.
Apart from the fact that they feel they have few information, Kate and Gerry also held responsible the PJ
for the information leaks. "Some of the leaks that appeared in the Portuguese and Spanish press were, we believe, from police
sources and that is very damaging. We hope that those leaks end", he said.
Mitchell also said in the interview that the McCanns will not come to Portugal to the reconstruction of the
disappearance scheduled for 15 or 16th of May. As the spokesman had already told 24 Horas, the McCanns do not believe that
this exercise, a year after and without being filmed by television cameras brings any benefit to discover the truth. "Nobody
stopped to think the psychological effect that it could cause to Kate, to see another person impersonating Maddie" said recently
to 24 Horas, Clarence Mitchell.
Stop being arguidos
Although the spokesman has guaranteed several times that the withdrawal of the arguido status is not compelling
as a condition for the McCanns to cooperate in the reconstruction, the truth is that the stigma continues to be heavy on them.
They would like "that the arguido status was withdrawn as soon as possible because they are not involved in the disappearance
of their daughter", said Clarence Mitchell in the interview. "They never placed the child in danger, they were never negligent
or something like that. They are responsible parents", guarantees Mitchell.
Letters with threats
The spokesman of the McCanns also confirmed that Kate and Gerry have received some threats. "I am not going
to enter in details but they receive several letters", he referred. "The majority is of support. Occasionally we also receive
some less good and some times we had to give those letters to the British police". The investigation of Método 3, the agency
of detectives hired by the McCanns continues with new possible clues.
"I cannot enter in details. We do not want to alert the abductor to what is being done".
We will see the results...
How the anniversary of Maddie's disappearance will be marked
Masses
in Portugal and in England
After tomorrow one year passes since the disappearance of Maddie in Algarve. The day will be marked by the
McCanns in England, where they live, by going to a mass. The mass is scheduled to the Church of Our Lady of Annunciation in
Liverpool where Kate and Gerry got married in December of 1998. Five years later the little Madeleine the first child of the
couple was born. In the last year the family searched for spiritual support near the Catholic church (in England and Portugal)
and near the Anglican community established in Praia Luz. The McCanns became intimate friends with that priest.
The date will also be marked with a religious ceremony in the church of Senhora da Luz in Algarve, scheduled
to 18,30, next Saturday. "Join us" is the appeal made in a paper in the door of the church. According to the British press,
Kate and Gerry will also light candles in memory of their daughter at 21,15 approximately at the same hour that they believe
their daughter was abducted from the room were she was sleeping in the Ocean Club, in Praia da Luz.
McCanns fear Madeleine could be held against her will for years like Fritzl's secret family Daily Mail
Last updated at 14:44pm on 1st May 2008
Madeleine McCann's parents fear she could end up like the secret family Josef Fritzl kept captive in an underground
dungeon in Austria, they revealed today.
Gerry McCann said the horrific case in the town of Amstetten, as well as that of Natascha Kampusch - who was
held captive by Austrian paedophile Wolfgang Priklopil for eight years - did show it was possible his own daughter is still
alive.
But he said he and wife Kate lived in fear that she could become a "statistic" while growing up elsewhere
and ultimately surviving but forgetting her parents.
In an appearance on Sky News the McCanns were asked if the shocking case gave them a glimmer of hope, as proof
that it was possible for someone missing so long to still be alive.
Mr McCann replied: "It's an interesting concept isn't it? And of course Austria has had the other case of
Natascha Kampusch who was missing for eight years.
"The last thing we would possibly ever want is for Madeleine to become a statistic, a missing child who because
of her young age may grow up in another environment and never be recovered."
His wife Kate, sitting by his side, interjected: "And adapt..." - indicating that they also fear Madeleine
could grow up and forget them.
The couple, who are both doctors, have launched a media blitz ahead of the one-year anniversary of their daughter's
disappearance this Saturday in a bid to uncover any new leads.
They admit the renewed interest in Madeleine's plight because of the landmark could be their last chance to
find her and are candid about their determination to capitalise on it while they still can.
Mr McCann told ITV: "This is an international situation, there is no doubt about that... Madeleine could have
very easily been moved out of Portugal so we have to appeal as far out as possible."
His wife said: "We know certainly that the media interest in us will die down after the anniversary. I think
that's inevitable and there are benefits from that.
"We always knew there was going to be a lot of attention around the anniversary and I guess we are trying
to capitalise on that and achieve something while we can.
"Obviously we can still work on it after that but we need to take these opportunities."
Mr McCann said they were renewing their appeal for any information because they still believe someone out
there "has that bit of information".
Although he said they would continue to campaign more widely about missing children, the doctor insisted his
daughter would always be their priority no matter how long they have to search for her.
"As long as Madeleine is missing, obviously we are going to be looking for her," he said.
"Our priority is finding Madeleine and we will certainly never give up searching for her until we find out
what happed and we find her abductor."
They are both adamant their daughter, now four, is still alive and that it will only take one piece of information
to find her.
Mrs McCann said: "Madeleine is just so important to us. She is so special to us and if anything is going to
keep you going, it is that.
"We are her parents. We will never give up no matter how tired we are, we will always keep going. We want
Madeleine back and she deserves to be found."
The couple have embarked on a huge round of TV interviews to kick off a renewed campaign in their search for
their girl ahead of the anniversary of her disappearance on Saturday.
Appearing this morning with his wife on GMTV, Mr McCann said their ordeal has been "almost unbearable", but
they have been pulled through by their young twins Sean and Amelie.
He said: "Any parent will understand we will do anything to get that child back. We will go to the ends of
the earth."
His wife added: "We're Madeleine's parents; if we're not there for her, who is?"
They have not yet decided what to do to mark the first anniversary of the four-year-old's disappearance from
Praia da Luz, Portugal, on Saturday.
Mr McCann said there are nights when he thinks "I don't want to wake up tomorrow", but that they believe a
lot can still be done.
He added: "That person is still out there and will probably do this again."
Speaking of the hate mail the couple have received, he said: "The negatives do drag you down a bit, you try
to develop a thick skin and put them aside.
"The problem with the recurring criticism that we went to dinner 50 yards away is that we can't change that."
Mrs McCann said: "Everybody parents in a different way. I couldn't love Madeleine more than I do and there's
no way we would ever take the risk.
"There's probably some things that other people do that we wouldn't do. There's no right or wrong, it's just
different."
She added: "There's been an evil crime committed here, a hideous crime ... It's just so important to concentrate
on that.
"We've got to live with ourselves for that misjudgement but really the focus should be on that person who's
out there."
Behind the scenes with the McCann family spokesman, Clarence Mitchell
Page last updated at 14:20 GMT, Thursday, 1 May 2008 15:20 UK
Madeleine: Cops Question 'Key' Witness Sky News
Martin Brunt, Crime Correspondent
Updated:18:53, Thursday May 01, 2008
Police have re-interviewed a woman who may prove to be a key witness in the Madeleine McCann case.
She was quizzed by police in the UK and her new statements passed to Portuguese detectives.
The young British woman, whose identity we are not revealing, saw a man "hovering" around the family's Algarve
apartment on the morning of May 3, hours before Madeleine vanished.
She was asked back for more questioning last week, according to Sky sources.
The witness was sitting on a balcony overlooking the holiday complex in Praia da Luz when she spotted the
man acting suspiciously.
She thought little of his behaviour at the time and returned to the UK later that day.
When she heard of Madeleine's disappearance she reported it to her local police force and was interviewed
for the first time.
She gave detectives a detailed description of the suspect and helped an artist compile a computer-generated
image of him.
It is not clear whether that image was ever released.
The woman was among 60 or so names given by the Algarve detectives last month to Leicestershire police, who
are conducting interviews on behalf of the Portuguese authorities.
The woman was asked back for a second interview last week in a bid to identify any discrepancies or similarities
in witness statements.
The McCanns' friends, the so-called Tapas 7, were among those re-interviewed.
Burglar Snatches Madeleine Sermon Notes Sky News
Martin Brunt, Crime Correspondent
Thursday May 01, 2008
I don't suppose it will distract them from their endeavours this weekend, but two of Kate and Gerry McCanns'
closest friends in Praia da Luz have been burgled ahead of the Madeleine anniversary.
Anglican priest Haynes Hubbard and his wife Susan lost a computer that contains personal and confidential
email exchanges between the two couples.
The laptop also held notes on which Father Hubbard was basing his sermon about Madeleine at the weekend.
Mrs Hubbard is concerned, too, about private telephone numbers stored on a mobile that was also stolen.
The Hubbards became great friends and comforters of the McCanns in the days after Madeleine's disappearance
and have kept in touch since Gerry and Kate returned to the UK.
I interviewed Father Hubbard several times and he was always a rather serious guy.
His wife was quite different.
One afternoon I spotted her emptying an impressive bag of bottles beside the recycling point at the end of
the promenade.
"Oh no," she gasped in mock horror. "Vicar's wife in secret booze scandal."
She didn't strike me as the Amy Winehouse type.
But, then, I've never heard her sing.
Police chief rules out alert system Ananova
01 May 2008
The most senior officer responsible for tracing missing children in England and Wales effectively ruled out
introducing an "amber alert" system.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Richard Bryan said there is no need for UK forces to adopt the American system
of immediate information broadcasts.
The officer, who is the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) lead on missing people, said forces already
operate an effective "child rescue alert".
Mr Bryan said police would rather use other investigative techniques to trace children before going public
and potentially alerting abductors.
But he admitted that guidelines may be too strict as only three alerts have been issued in the past five years.
Mr Bryan added that introducing such a system on mainland Europe would have its merits, but there are substantial
legislative hurdles.
His comments will come as a blow to Kate and Gerry McCann as they campaign for a Europe-wide quick response
system to help find abducted children. Their daughter Madeleine disappeared a year ago from a holiday apartment in Praia da
Luz, Portugal.
France is the only country to have introduced alerts along American lines, with a similar but less well-established
scheme in Belgium.
Mr Bryan said the McCanns are doing a "sterling job" in raising the issue of how police deal with child abductions.
He said: "I welcome the McCann's pressing for an amber alert. People need to realise we have got a version
of amber alert in the UK - child rescue alert. That has been in place since 2003 in Sussex and it was rolled out nationally
by 2006. We have only had to use it on three occasions."
Parents of missing British girl Madeleine McCann appeal to kidnappers: Call us MSNUK News
Published online: May 01, 2008 at 21:40
The parents of missing British girl Madeleine McCann have appealed to her kidnappers to return their daughter
on the one-year anniversary of her disappearance from a Portuguese resort.
Kate and Gerry McCann have begun a new phase of their search for Madeleine with the launch of a telephone
hotline they hope will produce new information.
"If you have Madeleine, you can call this number. All we are interested in, is getting Madeleine back," Gerry
McCann urged in an interview Thursday with AP television.
"You can do this anonymously, we will guarantee that. All we want is Madeleine back. You can get out of this
situation. Please, contact us," he said.
The couple have produced a documentary and are conducting interviews as part of a new media offensive to mark
the anniversary.
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