This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-london-13557897
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan Police faces quiz over McCann review | Metropolitan Police faces quiz over McCann review |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Metropolitan (Met) Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson was to face questions after the decision to review the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. | |
| London Assembly member Jenny Jones was to raise the issue at a Metropolitan Police Association (MPA) meeting. | |
| She was to ask about the allocation of resources for specific cases of children who have disappeared. | |
| Campaigners and relatives of other lost and missing children held a vigil outside City Hall ahead of the meeting. | |
| Madeleine, whose family live in Leicester, went missing at the age of three while on holiday in Portugal in May 2007. | Madeleine, whose family live in Leicester, went missing at the age of three while on holiday in Portugal in May 2007. |
| Outside jurisdiction | Outside jurisdiction |
| Earlier this month the Home Office said Scotland Yard would bring their "bring their expertise" to the search for Madeleine. | Earlier this month the Home Office said Scotland Yard would bring their "bring their expertise" to the search for Madeleine. |
| But campaigners have raised concerns that this has happened at a time when police resources are stretched and the Forensic Science Service is due to close. | But campaigners have raised concerns that this has happened at a time when police resources are stretched and the Forensic Science Service is due to close. |
| At the meeting Ms Jones was due to ask: "This review was requested by the prime minister and home secretary. Is your understanding that in future an elected police and crime commissioner would be able to request that the Met investigate specific cases in this way?" | |
| She said: "A missing child is every parent's worst nightmare and I have real sympathy for the many families in this position. | She said: "A missing child is every parent's worst nightmare and I have real sympathy for the many families in this position. |
| "Because of the prime minister's request to review the Madeleine McCann case, the Met police will be using a lot of time and resources to focus on one particular case, outside of their jurisdiction. | "Because of the prime minister's request to review the Madeleine McCann case, the Met police will be using a lot of time and resources to focus on one particular case, outside of their jurisdiction. |
| "I don't know how they will justify to other families why their missing children will not be getting exactly the same level of attention." | "I don't know how they will justify to other families why their missing children will not be getting exactly the same level of attention." |
| A Met spokesman said the review was being carried out at the request of the Home Secretary. | A Met spokesman said the review was being carried out at the request of the Home Secretary. |
| He said: "The commissioner has considered the request and the review will be carried out subject to funding being made available by the Home Office as the case is beyond the Metropolitan Police Service's jurisdiction." | He said: "The commissioner has considered the request and the review will be carried out subject to funding being made available by the Home Office as the case is beyond the Metropolitan Police Service's jurisdiction." |