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Missing Arthur Jones: 'Extensive' search by Crete police Missing Arthur Jones: 'Extensive' search by Crete police
(about 3 hours later)
A Welsh policeman says there has been "extensive searching" for a Denbigh pensioner missing in Crete.A Welsh policeman says there has been "extensive searching" for a Denbigh pensioner missing in Crete.
North Wales Police's Gareth Evans is helping with the search for Arthur Jones, who has not been seen since 19 June - two days after he arrived.North Wales Police's Gareth Evans is helping with the search for Arthur Jones, who has not been seen since 19 June - two days after he arrived.
He said the search had been hard as there was no "narrow search area".He said the search had been hard as there was no "narrow search area".
On Monday police found Mr Jones's name in a war cemetery visitors' book, where he had hoped to lay a cross on the grave of a friend's relative.On Monday police found Mr Jones's name in a war cemetery visitors' book, where he had hoped to lay a cross on the grave of a friend's relative.
Police appealed for British people who signed their names next to his on 18 June to come forward.Police appealed for British people who signed their names next to his on 18 June to come forward.
On Tuesday morning, Mr Jones's family said they had located two of the people in the list and had passed their details on to the police.On Tuesday morning, Mr Jones's family said they had located two of the people in the list and had passed their details on to the police.
Mr Jones, 73, a keen walker with 40 years' experience, told relatives he planned to go on a walking trip but had not left any details of where.Mr Jones, 73, a keen walker with 40 years' experience, told relatives he planned to go on a walking trip but had not left any details of where.
Officers were hoping Mr Jones may have spoken to some of the other tourists at the World War II cemetery in Souda Bay, near the city of Chania where he was staying, and told them of his plans.Officers were hoping Mr Jones may have spoken to some of the other tourists at the World War II cemetery in Souda Bay, near the city of Chania where he was staying, and told them of his plans.
Speaking to BBC Radio Wales, Det Ch Insp Evans repeated an appeal for any of the people whose names appear on the visitors' book to contact police.Speaking to BBC Radio Wales, Det Ch Insp Evans repeated an appeal for any of the people whose names appear on the visitors' book to contact police.
Rose Lyon, an ex-pat living in Spain, and her partner Joe Billet, from Newport, signed the visitors book five entries below Mr Jones. The detective also said he thought police in Crete were doing everything possible to find the missing man.
Ms Lyon said: "We were there at around about midday.
"I would think we did stay for a little while. We were there laying wreaths because Joe was in the SAS.
"We were there a good half an hour, maybe more. I don't remember anyone like Arthur."
Meanwhile, Det Ch Insp Evans, of North Wales Police, said that contrary to fears expressed by Mr Jones's family that not enough was being done to find him, he thought the police in Crete were doing everything possible to find the missing man.
He said: "The brigadier [from Crete police] gave us a very thorough briefing of the areas searched and it's been very extensive searching in some very difficult conditions.He said: "The brigadier [from Crete police] gave us a very thorough briefing of the areas searched and it's been very extensive searching in some very difficult conditions.
"There were search teams of police and volunteers out last weekend in temperatures of 41C. The nature of the terrain - it's a limestone area, there's potholes and gullies and scree slopes and there's limited scope for the helicopter to search due to the fact that we just haven't got a narrow search area to look at.""There were search teams of police and volunteers out last weekend in temperatures of 41C. The nature of the terrain - it's a limestone area, there's potholes and gullies and scree slopes and there's limited scope for the helicopter to search due to the fact that we just haven't got a narrow search area to look at."
North Wales Police officers have said the search is being managed at a senior level by the Greek authorities, but extensive searches will be scaled down unless new leads come to light.North Wales Police officers have said the search is being managed at a senior level by the Greek authorities, but extensive searches will be scaled down unless new leads come to light.
The officers have been working with Phil Benbow, chair of the North Wales Mountain Rescue Association, who has compiled a profile of Mr Jones to assist Greek police in setting search parameters. "It's quite a unique missing person's inquiry really in that he hasn't told anybody about what his plans are apart from speaking to people back home about some vague plans of walks he wanted to do," added DCI Evans.
The family's hopes had been raised by a possible sighting of Mr Jones dating from 25 June, a day after he was due home, but Det Ch Insp Evans said local police had ruled out all sightings reported so far.
However he added: "There is one on the 20th of the month for a sighting on a peninsula near his hotel and that was from an ex-pat lady who lives out here.
"She was back in England last week but is back (in Crete) so we're going to speak to her.
"It's quite a unique missing person's inquiry really in that he hasn't told anybody about what his plans are apart from speaking to people back home about some vague plans of walks he wanted to do.
"They are in some very mountainous terrain which is very difficult to search."They are in some very mountainous terrain which is very difficult to search.
"The last sighting we've got of him is the 19th of June. The cleaner in the hotel where he was staying saw him leaving his apartment." BBC Wales report Aled Hughes has travelled to the Greek island to meet Arthur Jones' family, and to see how the search is being carried out:
Ex-pat's view There are two sides to the city of Chania. Like in any Mediterranean holiday destination, it has a mix of the old and more than a touch of the new.
Former probation officer John McKenna and his wife Leonie moved to live in Crete from Prestatyn last year and are renovating a property near Plakia. Restaurants, bars and supermarkets line the streets between the hotels and apartments. But, a few miles to the west, there's the raw unspoilt coastline where mountains plummet to the light blue beauty of the sea. That's the Crete that drew Arthur Jones here.
He said that ex-pats were well aware of the search for Arthur, with an entry on the "Brits in Crete" Facebook site. The experienced walker wanted to explore and he had a lot of options. The former Welch Fusilier could have gone in any direction, following the miles of paths and goat trails that snake their way up into the peaks. I didn't appreciate the task facing the search teams until I got here.
Mr McKenna, a keen runner, said: "There are lots of walking groups here with very knowledgeable people who could be useful. His family realise and appreciate this. But they're determined to find their loved one.
"Like me, most suspect that he has gone into the White Mountains which are extensive and twice the height of Snowdon. The yellow posters they've printed line the streets to the west of Chania centre. They wear their t-shirts with Arthur's picture and an appeal in both English and Greek with pride. And hope.
"The tracks are well-used by walkers and hikers and it is possible to traverse the island on the European E2 walking route over the mountains," he said. They cling on to hope.
"There are also plenty of farmers and shepherds who travel on the remotest of trails." Officers from North Wales Police have helped them this week. The detectives have spoken to the Greek police and say the search is being managed at a very senior level .All it seems that can be done, is being done.
He said that although there were plenty of places to stay "off-piste" he, like others, would have expected Arthur to have shown up by now. But still, there are more questions than answers. Question about how and why a popular Welsh pensioner got lost, in paradise.
As well as searching the area near where Mr Jones was staying in the west side of the 160-mile-long(260km) island, police have also searched around Mount Ida (Mount Psiloritis) as he mentioned going to visit the area.
On Tuesday the North Wales Police team out in Crete will visit the peninsula where there was a potential sighting of Mr Jones.
Phil Benbow from North Wales Mountain Rescue Association, who went out to Crete with the officers on Sunday, is going with them to recce the area.
Anyone with any information should contact their local police force on 0300 3300101 quoting the North Wales Police reference number R103354 .Anyone with any information should contact their local police force on 0300 3300101 quoting the North Wales Police reference number R103354 .