To think the Met spending £5 million on Maddie McCann is unfair on others who have missing children

[Ilovemyself]

I know how retched I would feel if I were in the McCanns position, and would want no expense to be spared in the hunt for answers.

But I can't help but think that this case has been so high profile that other cases must have funding cut or not even be followed up as the budget is limited.

I honestly don't know what the answer is, but it does seem this case has benefitted in ways others wouldn't.

I feel bad for thinking its unfair on others, but just can't help wondering how other victims of serious crime feel.

[HeySoulSister]

We are a rich country??

[TSSDNCOP]

But you don't know, do you, how much is being spent on other missing kids? You're just assuming that Madeline's enquiry is gobbling up the budget. It's not like there's a queue of angry parents saying the police aren't looking for their lost kids or spending any money on the enquiry is it?

If it were my child I'd want all the money from every country in the world spent on finding them.

And I'd bet you'd be first in the queue demanding the same, since you'd feel so wretched.

[aldiwhore]

I'm not sure it should be judged on 'cash spent' but whether there are leads that can be followed.

Sometimes children are found quickly, sometimes never, I don't think each search should be allocated a set budget whilst there are still leads, I have to assume there's a reason that the search continues.

[TSSDNCOP]

Aldi exactly. The radio news says the Met have some 28 suspects they want to interview.

Maybe they should only do half. Save some cash.

[ExcuseTypos]

The whole Portuguese investigation was a complete farce. I'm glad the Met have reviewed the evidence and are now looking for proper suspects.

[Salmotrutta]

As far as I can tell from the BBC the Met are saying that their review (which started in 2011) has thrown up new witnesses and new evidence to enable them to begin new investigation.

No one knows who took her- it could have been someone from the UK for all we know. And that may lead to the solving of other cases.

Plus, the Met may have special divisions which deal with abduction which Leicester do not.

[Ilovemyself]

TSSDNCOP I have already said I would want all the money in the world spent if it was me.

But we do only have a finite budget as UKPLC. We can't spend unlimited budget. So the more that is spent on that case the less that can be spent elsewhere. It could be anywhere. It could be on the NHS. It could be on education. It could be on other policing.

And yes you are right that I am assuming that there is less being spent on other cases.

Perhaps it is because I feel for the woman whose husband has taken his daughter and is now I jail but won't arrange his daughters return, but I see she is feeling no less desperate to have her daughter returned than the McCanns but does not seem to be getting the same effort as them in guttering her daughter returned.

It is NOT a comment on the McCann more on how their case seems to have been handled as a much higher priority than others.

[CloudsAndTrees]

But you are making a comment on the McCann case, it's in your thread title!

If you has asked should more be done to reunite this girl in Egypt with her mother, then you'd probably have a very different response. And while this mother is no doubt going through hell without her daughter, she does at least know what happened and that she is highly likely to be alive and well. The McCanns don't even have that.

What it comes down to is that if there are leads that can be followed, then they should be followed.

You are right that we don't have an unlimited budget, but you wouldn't expect a hospital to say to someone that they couldn't have a heart operation because they've already spent enough on heart operations this month, but if they want their in growing toenail seen to then they can. We wouldn't think it was acceptable if a child was left without food or an education because it was decided enough had been spent on that already.

It's the same with this case. If there is work to be done that could result in a little girl being reunited with her family, then it should be done. The cost is irrelevant to me. There are certain things you can't put a price on.

[TSSDNCOP]

It seems to have a higher priority because its more newsworthy. Surely you can see that?

[Blu]

For the conspiracy theorists: if the Met (sadly) fail in this new investigation, how exactly will that boost their PR? Having spent / invested significant money in the case?

I hope all those of you weighing up the budget will decline to ask the police to investigate your next buglary on the grounds that the money could be better spent looking for a lost child.

[Ilovemyself]

TSSDNCOP That is a fair point.

[Ilovemyself]

Blu, the Met will get the credit for searching regardless of the outcome, so senior managers have everything to gain and nothing to lose by this.

And funnily enough yes, I did report a theft but only so I could give the serial number of the items stolen in case they were recovered. I did say there was no point in it being investigated ( not that I think they would have bothered in my case) as I thought it was a waste of their resources.

[NewChoos]

It's very very unfair for other families and I can't imagine how they feel.
Although I completely understand how you would want anything done if this was your child, it does not take away the unfairness of it. It's difficult to understand how they have more sympathy and support than other poor families.

[Soontobemama]

As a slight aside to this thread I do wonder what would happen if they did find Madeleine. She wouldn't know her family now would she?

[pleiadianpony]

apollo12234 .

We live in a hierarchical society. Mummy and Daddy McCann are Doctors. Therefore their value and worth is greater. Simple.

There are children who go missing from care homes, they are trafficked, abused and murdered. Nobody wants them or is particularly interested in their whereabouts.

The reality of this is that A LOT of factor in this case would be entirely different if the McCanns had been a couple of hospital porters holidaying in benidorm and had left their kids alone for an evening. There would have been a child protection investigation and the media would have pounced on them then the whole case wouldve been put to sleep.

[Nerfmother]

Oh my god I can't believe some of the last few posts. What shocking self righteous views.

[pleiadianpony]

NewChoos I really think the sympathy is not unplaced. It is hard not to have an iota of compassion for someone who has taken a stupid risk with their child which has resulted in a horrible outcome.

BUT I would hedge a good bet that had they been a working class couple, the media would have responded differently. The media has generated alot of feeling in the public.

and bloody hell! Mrs McCann work in child protection???!! She wouldn't/shouldn't be allowed to. She at very least (had she been working class) been subjected to charges against her for 'flailing to protect'.

The more money/power/influence you have the less recourse you have for your errors and crimes.

[McNewPants2013]

I hope and prey they find her. I don't care how much it costs. You can not put a price on this.

[pleiadianpony]

It's not self righteousness nerfmother it's how it is.

why do we lap up everything the media tells us? I'm not being compassionate. We live in an unequal unjust society which discriminates against people. It's a fact.
Like someone said earlier, keith bennetts poor mother was never given any closure. How it must have felt to have the case abandoned. My heart goes out to her.

The comment that has been made about 'the police should use resources to find people who might be alive rather that those they know are already dead is really really uncompassionate.

I don't think the police should stop trying to find out what happened to madeline mccann not do i think ANYONE should have any loss unresolved. I think people should be treated equally.

[Ilovemyself]

Mcnewpants. I know that you can't put a price on it. But don't you think in this day and age of austerity and cut backs you have to at some point. What police department has a never ending budget? What department has to have reduced staffing or be closed down to fund it.

Don't get me wrong, I hope they find her and if it takes £50 million then that would be worth it for them.

But it may then have a knock on effect to other services and you would then have to ask them if they felt the same ( I am not talking about speaking to someone who has had their car broken into, I am talking to someone that has suffered a life changing crime)

[CloudsAndTrees]

I agree that people should be treated equally by our public services, but that doesn't mean spending the same amount on each case even when there are no reasonable leads left to follow. Each case has to be treated according to its own circumstances.

[Nerfmother]

Yes it is, all the snarky comments and the hoiked bosoms by those who would never do the same. The police spending money affects the police budgets. It's not snatched from the hands of starving orphans.

[MyDarlingClementine]

isnt this thread sort of wishing bad on the macannes?

suggesting they are taking money from others lost children?

totally nonsensical.

[landofsoapandglory]

I think what should be being asked is why has the Met found 38 new leads/ witnesses, 12 of which are British that haven't been persued which give them good reason to believe Madeline is still alive!

I am bloody glad they are spending money on this. Madeline deserves it. If she is still alive she has spent 2 thirds of her life away from her parents and family.

How can anyone moan about spending money on getting her found? I am pretty sure that if it was one of your kids who were miss Ilove you would want maximum funds ploughed in until they were found!