HomeOffice - The Madeleine Foundation

HomeOffice
Direct Oornm unlcrtion5 Unit
2 Marsham Street, London gwl p 4DF
$witchboard 02o 7035 4848 Fax: 020 7035 4740 Teldphone: 020 7035 4742
E-ruHil: public.enqu lilFflQhomeoffice. gs j gg.y,Hl Webe ite : www. homeoffice. gov. uk
Mr Tony Bennett
The Madeleine Foundation
66 Chippingfield
Harlow
Essex
GM17 ODJ
Reference; T13591/9
10 August, 2009
Dear Mr Bennett,
Thank you for your letter of 13 July to the Prime Minister which has been
passed to the Home Office for reply in view of your comment$ about the role
of the Leicestershire Constabulary in the investigation of the disappearance of
Madelelne McCann.
You asked a nurnber of detailed questions about the investigation. Those are
operetional matters for the police and the Home Office has no role in such
deoisions. There has been no interferenoe by the Horne Office in the polica
investigation. We have however been assured by the police that any leads in
the UK are followed up and have liaised with the FCO to ensure that the
Portuguese authorities receive assistance as appropriate.
The Leicestershire Constabulary has put considerable effort into the
investigation and rerrtains committed to it and any new lines of enquiry will be
investigated and communicated to the Portuguese, As MaOeleine went
rnissing in Portugal, the investigation i$ being led by the portuguese
authorities, who retain primacy irr the investigation. The Government does not,
of course, have control of what the Portuguese do with any information that is
passed to them.
You ask about rogatory interviews. While we have previously confirmed that
a request for mutual legal assistance was received, it is our policy to respect

any requests for confidentiality and not to comment orr the detail of individual
cases'
The Government continues to follow Madeleine's case and hopes that ehe will
be fourtd safe and well.
Yours sincerelY,
nf
\\ t\ S Jtl"pr
P Edmundson