|
|
|
|
Tourists who have visited the
Algarve
resort where Madeleine McCann was abducted are being asked to send their holiday
photographs to British police.
They want anyone who was in the Praia da Luz area in the two weeks before the
four-year-old disappeared on 3 May to send their photos to a new website.
Officers will cross-reference them with a database of UK paedophiles.
Meanwhile, Madeleine's father Gerry has read messages of support left in their village of Rothley, Leicestershire.
Mr McCann saw the thousands of yellow ribbons, tributes, flowers and cuddly toys
left by the public.
He then spoke to some of the people who had gathered to show their support, but
did not speak to the media.
Mr McCann, who is due to return to Portugal to be with his family on
Tuesday, also tied his own yellow ribbon, which has become a symbol of hope for
Madeleine.
He was meeting organisers of the campaign to find her. It is also thought his
visit will enable the family to stay in Portugal for the foreseeable future.
'Jigsaw piece'
Making their appeal, UK
police said they wanted photographs that included strangers in the background,
but not family or empty scenic shots.
Photos can be uploaded via a website - www.madeleine.ceopupload.com.
The photographs will be cross-referenced against a database of pictures of UK paedophiles
and other criminals, with police able to check 1,000 an hour.
Any relevant information will then be passed on to the Portuguese police.
Jim Gamble, of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre, said:
"No matter how small or insignificant the information may seem to you, it could
be the missing part of the jigsaw, so let us decide if it is important.
"We are looking for anyone who was at the Ocean Club Resort or surrounding area
in the two weeks leading up to Madeleine's disappearance on 3 May, who have
photographs that might help our work."
Detective Chief Superintendent Anne Harrison, of the National Policing
Improvement Agency (NPIA), said it was possible Madeleine was still being hidden
in Praia da Luz.
She also appealed for anyone who took a part in the initial search for her,
before the Portuguese police arrived, to contact police on 0800 0961233.
Police have teamed up with a number of computer companies to deliver the
technological power behind the website and the collection of photographs.
As well as uploading them, police say the public can take any photos they might
think relevant to high street photography shop Jessops, which will convert
traditional prints to digital images for free.
A number of UK
law enforcement agencies are helping the Portuguese authorities, including
Leicestershire Constabulary, the Association of Chief Police Officers, CEOP and
the NPIA.
One-minute silence
At noon on Monday a one-minute silence was held in Portugal to show solidarity with
Madeleine's family.
The silence was initiated by an anonymous chain e-mail circulated around the
country at the weekend and was observed by tourists and locals.
Madeleine's mother Kate McCann observed the silence privately at the family's
holiday apartment.
Senior detectives in Portimao, who are investigating Madeleine's disappearance,
also stopped for one minute.
The latest public display of support has come from the
Liverpool
football team, who were photographed on Monday with a banner asking for
information of Madeleine's whereabouts.
They were pictured as they left the UK
for their Champions League final in
Athens
on Wednesday. |
|
 |
|
