The investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance continues and we’re no nearer finding out what happened. That’s disturbing in itself but what concerns me are the antics of the Portuguese police. I use the word “police” because that’s their name, however, it doesn’t appear to relate to their function from what I understand of law and order.

It is completely natural that different nations have different approaches to policing. I’m sure there and pros and cons across the board. I don’t believe our police are perfect – I don’t believe it’s possible for a police force to achieve perfection in what is an incredibly difficult and important job.

I cannot begin to understand how the Portuguese police can justify the way they work. For a start, their secrecy laws don’t appear to give any benefits at all. In the case of a missing child, why keep details back? They can only help, especially immediately after the crime where the public have details fresh in their minds. An innocent observation, easily lost in the fog of memory can be brought out and recorded for intelligence use in the critical hours that follow the crime. Someone spotting a person loading up a car could give the police a much needed lead. Months later, would the same witness remember something so innocent? Of course not. That’s the benefit of quick and informative media reports – not to feed morbid sections of the public. I don’t see how careful and responsible media coverage can assist the criminal with information either. Given the police’s now obvious incompetence, I strongly believe their secrecy laws serve only to cover up inadequate and inappropriate actions. Kate McCann is under threat of jail if she speaks out to defend herself – that is denying freedom of speech – that is unacceptable in a civilised society and must surely breach her human rights. In this day and age human rights are extended into all sorts of strange areas, such as having to take care of the amount of force that you use against an intruder, but a European country can stop you from publically defending your reputation when they are releasing stories into the media? That’s outrageous. You may question such a strong sentiment from me but the incompetence is proven in many ways, not least the facts which show the police failed to seal off the area for clues or even look for clues.

Whether the McCanns “did it” or not is not relevant to my blog here as there are no facts to push an opinion one way or the other. I simply don’t know – however, I do believe you are innocent until PROVEN guilty. As a father I can’t believe they could have done something like that accidentally or not but there are so many things in this world which are unbelieveable that you just can’t be sure without knowing the facts. The fact that the police have been and appear to continue to circulate rumours based on subjective material is nothing short of scandalous. I can’t believe that a police force can be allowed to get away with this. If the McCanns indeed “did it” – this rumour mongering still serves no purpose other than to try and make them confess – which would be unlikely to work now. If they did not do it, then it’s hard to imagine being in a position where your child is snatched and then you are accused of being involved. That’s hell on earth. Who is accountable for that police force? I note the police inspector (himself a suspect on another case) has since been fired but the damage has been done already. Imagine when the young McCann twins grow up and rumours remain that their own parents killed their sister. How do any of the McCanns cope with that?

This “suspect” status conferred by the Portuguese police is baffling too. They appear to be able to give out this status on a whim based on no concrete evidence – both to the McCanns and to Robert Murat. There appears to be no time limit where it HAS to be withdrawn even though they are not charged. That is amazing. If there is no evidence they should be released from this status. We don’t know if Murat was involved – but imagine he was not and only acted in a ghoulish and foolish way, hanging around the scene of the crime. His life is scarred forever, whatever happens.

I went to Portugal on holiday this summer with my family – including my 6 year old daughter. The Algarve is a very attractive proposition for holiday makers. I wouldn’t go anywhere near the place now. It is not a civilised country. Awful things happen all over the world but there is a real danger for innocents to be accused of things with no evidence and with no sensitivity by police who are not bound to say or (appear to) account for anything. Either Robert Murat, the McCanns or both are in this position unless you think they’re all in it together – and what circumstance would have the McCanns colluding with Murat in respect of their own daughter? I honestly believe that all holiday makers and businesses should steer clear of that country until it moves into the twenty first century.