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Post by Admin on Apr 18, 2015 13:15:28 GMT
Dr Joe Sullivan, who has worked on high-profile cases such as the disappearance of Madeleine McCann and abduction of April Jones, believes he can coach others on how to identify warning signs. As part of the Intervene to Protect a Child programme, 400 Durham officers have been trained to look out for certain types of clothing and tattoos, as well as how an individual behaves in public and how they interact with authority figures. Explaining the programme, that is already in use by the US Texas Rangers, Dr Sullivan said: "I have learned from what they (paedophiles) have had to say, what are the key indicators that someone who may not have that level of knowledge may not pick up on." Although the controversial training will no doubt spark debate, Durham police officers have already put their specialist knowledge to good use. After making a routine call on an elderly man, PC Grundy became suspicious of his behaviour. Upon investigating further, he discovered the man, who had a history of sexually abusing children, had been visited by a woman and a five-year-old girl. The concerned officer contacted social services and the man has now been banned from seeing the young girl. Explaining how the specialist training inspired him to act, PC Grundy said: "This guy was being very evasive with me when normally he would engage. He was very stand-offish and wanted me to leave. His personality had completely changed and that was something I referred back to in my training."
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Post by Admin on May 2, 2015 5:24:43 GMT
Kate McCann has said she is "more driven than ever" to continue the search for missing daughter Madeleine ahead of the eighth anniversary of her disappearance. Kate spoke of her relentless search as she announced she will lead a 500-mile bike ride from Edinburgh to London in June to raise £10,000 for a missing persons charity. Little Madeleine was three when she went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Portugal's Algarve on May 3, 2007, as her parents, Kate and Gerry, dined at a nearby tapas restaurant with friends. Mrs McCann, who is fundraising for Missing People, of which she is an ambassador, said: "As the eighth anniversary of our daughter Madeleine's abduction is upon us, I'm more driven than ever to continue the search for Madeleine and to help other families who face the pain of a child being missing. All of us can play a part in helping this important charity." Mrs McCann will lead 20 cyclists on a Cycle Challenge starting at Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh's landmark hill, on June 13. They will then take in Newcastle, York, Nottingham and Northampton before finishing at the Tower of London on June 17. Madeleine's disappearance is one of the most famous missing persons cases of all time. Last week her parents won a libel payout against Portuguese detective Goncalo Amaral, who had been on trial over claims he made in a book and a documentary that the couple were involved in Madeleine's disappearance in Praia da Luz. Missing People is launching a fundraising effort alongside Mrs McCann's ride. £MissforMay encourages people to give up a luxury for May and donate the money they save. Its chief executive, Jo Youle, said: "We are hugely grateful to Kate McCann for taking on this incredible challenge to help missing people and their families across the UK." :: To donate to Kate McCann's Cycle Challenge visit www.justgiving.com/KateMcCann/
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Post by Admin on May 14, 2015 5:24:13 GMT
Kate McCann has said she is 'more driven than ever' to continue the search for missing daughter Madeleine following the eighth anniversary of her disappearance. Kate spoke of her determination as she announced she will lead a 500-mile bike ride from Edinburgh to London in June to raise £10,000 for a missing persons charity. Beginning at Edinburgh's Arthur's Seat on 13 June, Kate and a team of 20 cyclists will cycle through Newcastle, York, Nottingham and Northampton, before finishing at the Tower of London on 17 June. The announcement of the ride comes eight years after the disappearance of Madeleine on 3 May 2007. Kate and husband Gerry has been dining at a nearby restaurant in Portugal's Algrave with friends when Madeline, who was aged three at the time, went missing from her family's holiday apartment. The announcement of the ride comes eight years after the disappearance of Madeleine on 3 May 2007. Kate and husband Gerry has been dining at a nearby restaurant in Portugal's Algrave with friends when Madeline, who was aged three at the time, went missing from her family's holiday apartment. Eight years on, Kate says she is still as determined as ever to find Madeline, and hopes to raise money for Missing People charity, of which she is an ambassador. Eight years on, Kate says she is still as determined as ever to find Madeline, and hopes to raise money for Missing People charity, of which she is an ambassador. Kate said: "As an Ambassador for Missing People I'm taking on the Cycle Challenge to raise awareness and to fund the charity's valuable work helping missing children, vulnerable adults and their families left behind. As the eighth anniversary of our daughter Madeleine's abduction is upon us, I'm more driven than ever to continue the search for Madeleine and to help other families who face the pain of a child being missing. All of us can play a part in helping this important charity." If you would like to donate to Kate McCann's Cycle Challenge, then visit www.justgiving.com/KateMcCann/
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Post by Admin on May 18, 2015 5:40:57 GMT
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.
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Post by Admin on Jul 28, 2015 1:55:43 GMT
Police in Australia have dismissed speculation that the body of a murdered child found in a suitcase and dumped by the side of the road could be the remains of Madeleine McCann. The skeletal remains, which were discovered by a remote highway near Wynarka in South Australia earlier this month, are believed to be of a little girl. There had been speculation in local media the remains might be of Gerry and Kate McCann's daughter. That's despite the small town being some 10,000 miles away from Praia da Luz in Portugal, where Madeleine was last seen. Young girl whose skeletal remains were found dumped in suitcase 'suffered violent death' There were some similarities between the two cases though, relating to age and appearance. Australian police believe the remains are of a girl aged between two and four, who died in 2007 and had fair hair. Madeleine was three-years-old when she vanished without a trace in 2007 and had blonde hair. But South Australia police commissioner Grant Stevens said today: "There is absolutely no evidence at this point in time that the child is Madeleine McCann. "To suggest something like that at this point in time would purely be speculating to get attention.” Speaking to a parliamentary committee, he added: "Until we ascertain the identity of the child we need to be open to all possibilities."
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