Special treatment that isn't

[NickFitz]

It turns out that, when our beloved leader Mr. David Cameron asked the Metropolitan Police to divert resources to the Madeleine McCann investigation, what he meant was that he wasn't actually telling them to divert resources, merely suggesting the idea:

Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson "received a request, which he considered, and took the decision that on balance it was the right thing to do".

A Downing Street spokesman also denied police had been directed on an operational matter: "It was done at the request of the Home Secretary. It was agreed by Sir Paul Stephenson. That is not a direction."

I don't know about you, but my experience is that when a politician or their representatives deny something on the basis of how a particular term is defined, it means that they did what they're accused of doing but won't admit that they did. In the same way, when somebody who is supposedly politically independent says that they decided to do something after a demand by a politician but not because of the demand by the politician, they did it because of the demand by the politician; if it had been "the right thing to do" they would have already done it.

I have sent the following email to the office of the Prime Minister under my full name and address (both physical and email):

As you have apparently determined it to be important that the Metropolitan Police divert resources to investigate the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, I assume you will also be exhorting them to devote a similar level of resources to the investigation of every other missing person enquiry concerning United Kingdom citizens who have gone astray whether here or abroad. If however you do not think it appropriate for resources to be so directed, I would be interested to learn the reason or reasons why the McCann case deserves special treatment.

EDIT: and yes, the email they sent me with the confirmation link went to my spam folder

If you are also wondering why the Prime Minister and the Met have suddenly decided to go to such a lot of trouble over one case that happens to be popular with Daily Mail readers whilst apparently not being concerned with innumerable other cases, you may wish to contact the Prime Minister, expressing your own questions in your own terms.

I would also suggest emailing the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, but his email address seems to be a secret - I'm pretty good at finding out most things online, but the best I can find is a form allowing me to "Thank the Met"

Presumably I should be thanking them for failing to investigate a crime that happened next door to Charing Cross Police Station, despite them having been informed that there was (and still is) a disk full of CCTV footage of the crime happening, awaiting collection.

[TimberWolf]

Everyone knows doctors should be paid £1m/year, be unsackable and receive preferential treatment in all matters including for their children, especially if they make a fuss.

[MarillionFan]

I have sent the following email to the office of the Prime Minister under my full name and address (both physical and email):

As you have apparently determined it to be important that the Metropolitan Police divert resources to investigate the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, I assume you will also be exhorting them to devote a similar level of resources to the investigation of every other missing person enquiry concerning United Kingdom citizens who have gone astray whether here or abroad. If however you do not think it appropriate for resources to be so directed, I would be interested to learn the reason or reasons why the McCann case deserves special treatment.

You may dress like a Christian but the similarity ends there.

For you to get on some logical, socialist band wagon questioning the decision for the police to review this case after a little pressure beggars belief. It is the kind of irritating logic that makes me want to slap anyone wearing a Socialist Worker t-shirt.

The McCanns have spent an awful amount of time, money and resource tracking down additional leads on their own volition. There are some 1200 possible sighting which they have been following up on themselves. That in it's own right makes it 'the right thing' to have police resource on side. The fact that they are in the public eye means that their will always be a greater number of leads to follow up. It is public pressure that has made the Prime Minister 'intervene' plus they also came to him when he was in opposition. That's what politicians are for, to represent people!

In the case of other missing persons they may never have another siting, nothing to follow up and the case goes cold/is closed, where there is you expect the police to investigate. (I'll mention this to my neighbour later who heads up the missing persons dept for Hampshire police and see what he thinks)

But just so you are aware, when someone does read and reply to your email, their first reaction will be to think which is also mine.

[xoggoth]

Hmm. On actual issue I was going to say but then I thought but then I thought on the other hand so I won't.

However given the "Daily Mail readers" bit I shall agree with MF on principle. Nothing gets my goat more than this unthinking bracketing of people and ideas followed by an instant dismissal than that. Applies equally to "Guardian Readers"

PS But Daily Express and Mirror readers really are crap.

[suityou01]

Hmm. On actual issue I was going to say but then I thought but then I thought on the other hand so I won't.

However given the "Daily Mail readers" bit I shall agree with MF on principle. Nothing gets my goat more than this unthinking bracketing of people and ideas followed by an instant dismissal than that. Applies equally to "Guardian Readers"

PS But Daily Express and Mirror readers really are crap.

A deliberate bracketing of people as DM readers, or Guardian readers? Or an unthinking bracketing of people?