Pages 2224-2234
and
Processos Volume XI
Pages 2843 – 2848
National Policing Improvement Agency
Wyboston Lakes, Great North Road,
Wybmion, Bedfordshire,
MK44 3BY,
United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 (0)87XX XXXXXX
Web: http://www.npia.police.uk
Mark Harrison MBE
National Search Adviser
Homicide, Missing Persons, Mass Fatality Disasters
Email: markha&n@npia.pnn.police.uk
Dlrect dial: +44797XXXXXXX
23/07/2007
Madeleine McCann Search Decision Support Document
The reconnaissance undertaken and this report has been completed at the direct request and benefit of Guillhemino Encamacao the Algarve Regional Director of the Portuguese Judicial Police
Personal Profile
I am the National Adviser in relation to Search for all Police agencies within the United Kingdom for Missing persons, Abduction and Homicide. My role involves advising on searching for persons that are missing, abducted or murdered, using enhanced search techniques and technologies. I attend and review cases providing advice and support on search plans, strategies and resources. I have extensive national and international experience in such casework. I am a visiting Professor of Earth and Ocean Sciences at the University of Southampton.
In compiling this report I have driven and walked around the relevant areas of Praia Da Luz during the hours of darkness and then during daylight hours. I have conducted reconnaissance flights using the Civil defence helicopter. Consultation has been made with various colleagues and subject matter experts in the development of this report.
This report considers solely the possibility that Madeleine McCann has been murdered and her body is concealed within the areas previously searched by Police in Zone 1 around Praia Da Luz. Other scenarios or possibilities may on request be considered and be subject of a further report. I also make comment on the recent claims made by a Mr Krugel as to the whereabouts of the missing child.
Initial Action
On Friday 20.07.2007 a request was made by the Portuguese Judicial Police to the NPIA for search advisory assistance. As a result of this the following terms of reference were produced.
Terms of reference to provide assistance to the Portuguese Judicial Police.
1. Assist the Judicial Police and GNR in assessing new or previous areas searched and give opinion on the best methods and assets to provide assurance as to the absence or presence of M McCann's concealed remains.
2. Act as a "critical friend" to the officer in charge of search planning and management and offer immediate and enduring peer review until case resolution or search suspension.
3. Assist in the development of framework models such as scenario based searching to aid homicide disposal searching.
4. Consider further opportunities or areas for search in order to locate M McCann as applicable to the latest intelligence and inform tion provided.
5. Where appropriate, provide independent and impartial advice on the enabling and disabling factors of specialist resources available either within Portugal or elsewhere in body detection.
6. To assist in decision support where requested by testing and challenging claims made by persons offering unorthodox search methods or devices to aid locating M McCann.
7. Where appropriate and requested, assist in advising on procedures to procure any non Portuguese specialist assets that are deemed to be relevant and useful.
Mr Krugel's Claims Regarding the Location of Madeleine McCann
A Mr Krugel, at the McCann's request, attended Praia Da Luz last week from South Africa alleging he could assist in locating Madeleine McCann. I have spoken with the Police officers that accompanied him and viewed the documentation Krugel has supplied to the PJ.
The limiting factor in coming to a view is that Krugel did not allow anyone to view the handheld device he had with him or observe him using it. He was unable to provide any validating scientific data or documents to support the claims he made or the device he alleged to have with him.
In short he would appear to claim he has uniquely developed a handheld device that can find a missing person alive or dead in any given terrain over any elapsed time period.
In debriefing the officers who accompanied Krugel it is possible to hypothesise what he may have been doing and using.
In consultation with a colleague Dr Wolfram Meier-Augenstein we feel he may have been attempting to give the impression he had developed and was using
a "Remote Laser based gas sensing device". However his claims regarding the distance of detection, up to 20km and the use of a hair sample are highly unlikely and would be a great innovation in the scientific world. Further provenance of this technique could be sought from Prof. Miles Padgett who is a Professor of optics in physics at the University of Glasgow (m. padgett@phvsics.nla.ac.uk tel +44 141 XXXXXXX)
One obvious challenge to the claims of the device capability is that if Krugel claims that by taking 3 separate location readings he is able to triangulate to an area then one would assume that as an area was identified further reading and triangulation inside that area could be conducted repeatedly until an "X marked the spot?
.
Of most concern is the poor quality of his report which merely shows a google earth image of an area to the east of Praia Da Luz and includes open scrub land, beach and sea. As Krugel was not prepared to allow the device to be viewed or provide any specification data of readings or equipment and the fact that no known device currently exists commercially or academically then I can only conclude that the information he has provided is likely to be of low value.
GNR Searches Conducted within 7 days of Madeleine McCann's Disappearance.
On Saturday 21.07.2007 I met with Major Luis Seqeuira, GNR Portimao who was the search coordinator for all search activity that was under taken in the physical search for Madeleine McCann.
Major Seqeuira has not benefited from any formal training or accreditation in the management of searching for missing persons. The search officers with the exception of the search and rescue team dispatched from Lisbon had not benefited from any formal training in search procedures. The teams available and deployed by Major Seqeuira were drawn from unit of the GNR, Civil Protection, Fire Brigade, Red Cross and Urban Police. Each team numbered around 10 and between 80 to 100 personnel were involved in search activity.
The searches were based on a strategy of searching in "rescue and recovery mode? to locate the missing girl alive or if dead, not as a victim of crime. This search phase lasted for 7 days from the date M McCann went missing.
The search was split into 3 zones radiating out from Praia Da Luz in a northward direction. The first zone extended 3km to the EN125 road at Espiche. W?hin this zone, sectors were drawn using the natural boundaries that exist and included the entire village. Officers were briefed and debriefed before and after deployments and records of activity collected. Each sector was repeatedly searched on 3 separate occasions over the 7 days using officers conducting line searches and supported by air scenting dogs.
The next Zone 2 was extended out to a radius of 7km to the boundary of the N120 road at Bensafrim. As the sectors were larger and in order to support the line searches 2 GNR officers on motorcycles and 6 GNR officers on horse-back were deployed. These sectors were all searched on 2 separate occasions over the 7 day period.
The outer zone 3 was extended to 15km at Barragem de Odiaxere a dammed lake. This zone is in a mountainous region subject to flash forest fires.
Therefore Fire officers who routinely patrol and have local knowledge of the area were tasked to drive the tracks, visit empty properties to look for the missing girl. Additionally the fire brigade used a boat to visually inspect the surface water of the lake.
Re Visiting Previously Searched Areas.
In considering the two scenarios that Madeleine McCann has been murdered and her body disposed of by a person on foot or in a vehicle, I have reflected on the areas within zone 1 that have been previously searched or subject to forensic examination.
Mark Warner Creche at Praia Da Luz.
This is the location of the last confirmed sighting by a person independent of family members of Madeleine McCann. Although this location was within the original search area it may well benefit from a further search using enhanced detecting methods for human remains. This will depend on the size of any outside grounds and concealed areas inside the building.
McCann's Apartment.
The apartment in which the McCann's had stayed may present further
opportunities to search. The use of a specialist EVRD (Enhanced Victim
Recovery Dog) and CSI dog (human blood detecting dog) could potentially indicate on whether Madeline's blood is in the property or the scent of a dead body is present. In relation to the dead body scent if such a scent is indicated by the EVRD and no body is located it may suggest that a body has been in the property but removed. This search process could be repeated in all the apartments that were occupied by the friends holidaying with the McCann's.
Murat's House and Garden.
The property has been forensically examined to recover any surface trace evidence however the house and gardens may benefit from a fully invasive specialist search to preclude the presence of Madeleine McCann.
A method previously employed on similar cases has been to use the below assets.
Deploy the EVRD to search the house and garden to ensure Madeleine McCann's remains are not present. The dog may also indicate if a body has been stored in the recent past and then moved off the property, though this is not evidential merely intelligence.
Deploy the CSI dog to search the house to locate any human blood.
This will act in support of the forensic examination already completed.
An inhibiting factor will be on areas where Luminol has been used.
Deploy geophysical instruments in the house and garden to detect any burial of a body or concealment in voids.
These specialists should be supported by physical search teams exploring and accessing all areas where concealment of a child's body could be made typically 0.5m.
Murat's Vehicles.
All vehicles Murat has had access to have been forensically examined to recover any surface trace evidence however they may all benefit from a full search by the EVRD and CSI dogs. They may be able to detect whether a dead body has been transported in one of the vehicles for intelligence purposes or detect human blood deposits that can be recovered and examined in a laboratory for Madeleine McCann's blood.
Open Area to East of Praia Da Luz.
This open area between the village urban limits and the Boavista golf club to the east and includes a plateau on which sits a trig point and mobile phone mast.
This area has been previously searched by officers and dogs walking through the area to check for Madeleine McCann's visible remains. However considering the new scenario of Homicide and concealed deposition this area affords many opportunities to dispose of a body. Within this area there are old empty properties, wells, thick vegetation, pockets of soft sand and natural fissures in the cliffs. Whilst there is no intelligence she is buried or concealed in this land it would be a natural place an offender may choose dose to the Village using the least effort principle. A proportionate response may therefore be considered to conduct a search of this area using a team of Victim Recovery Dogs (VRD) that are specifically trained to located concealed human remains.
Prior to undertaking this task it would be beneficial to consult with a Forensic Anthropologist with knowledge of this region of Portugal to give opinion as to the likely state of any remains to be found. Further research could also be conducted with regards to the natural scavenging predators in the area.
An inhibiting factor is that since the disappearance of the child an old empty house adjacent to the Trig Point on the Rocha Negra has been demolished and all rubble removed, If she was concealed within this property the search would be unlikely to detect her now.
Praia Da Luz Beach and Shoreline.
The beach and shoreline are bounded by high cliffs and shallow waters. The beach has fine granular sand and provides easy digging. However the beach is extensively used by tourists and locals and af?rds minimal areas of cover from view for concealment. It may be considered appropriate to use the VRD dog team supported by geophysical GPR to sweep the beach. This would be a considerable time and cost undertaking and should be weighed in the absence of specific intelligence.
Search Duration.
If all the described assets were deployed it would be likely all assets would complete their searches within one week.
Costs.
Currently only costs for the EVRD and CSI are available.
The daily rate for this dog team is 1000 Euros. Flight travel costs for handler and dogs could be 2750 Euros. Veterinary costs: U.K. and Portugal to comply with Pet Passports scheme 450 Euros. Accommodation, subsistence and vehicle transportation would incur extra charge.
Costs for a VRD dog team to conduct the open area search are not available at the time of writing. Such a team could be sourced from several countries within Europe or USA that have this capability including the UK. However the UK is limited to those teams whose dogs have "pet passports" due to UK quarantine restrictions.
Costs for a geophysical search team to conduct the search of Murat's house and garden are not available at the time of writing. These could be sourced from a commercial surveying company, a university or military within Portugal. Alternatively enquires could be made within the UK.
Offshore.
The sea in general circumstances would be immediately attractive to an offender as an easy way of body disposal and so must be considered.
The searches of the coastline was conducted by the Maritime Police and Coastguard. They searched the sea for any body buoyant on the surface and checked the coves and caves.
It could be considered appropriate to conduct research into the tidal flows and movement of the sea in this region and hypothesise where a body may travel if entered at certain points. It has been observed the depth of the sea appears shallow at the relevant area of coastline and this may become an inhibiting factor for any offender wishing to dispose of a body in it.
Overall Summary.
This report has highlighted the extensive and professional efforts made by the Portuguese authorities regarding the search to locate Madeleine McCann alive. It has now begun to consider further opportunities to re search locations in order to address the possibility that she has been murdered and concealed nearby. This would be a proportionate and appropriate response given the elapsed time since her disappearance and previous experience in such similar cases. Should the investigators wish to discuss and develop the issues raised in this initial assessment I would be happy to do so. Should further advisory “in country” support be required of the National Search Advisor following this initial assessment phase formal approval must be sought from the NPIA.
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Mark Harrison profile, reports and rogatory statement
Processo Vol IX Pages 2256 to 2261
And
Processo Vol XI Pages 2853 - 2858
Mark Harrison MBE
National Search Adviser
Homicide, Missing Persons, Mass Fatality Disasters
Madeleine McCann Search
31-07-2007
Decision Support Document - Praia da Luz Beach & Marine Assessment
The reconnaissance undertaken and this report have been completed at the
direct request and benefit of Guillhermino Encarnacao the Algarve regional
director of the Portuguese Judicial Police.
Personal Profile
I am a serving police officer and the National Adviser in relation to Search for
Police agencies within the United Kingdom. My role involves advising on
searching for persons that are missing, abducted or murdered, using
enhanced search techniques and technologies. I attend and review cases
providing advice and support on search plans, strategies and resources. I
have extensive national and international experience in such casework and in
2004 was awarded an MBE for services to search. I am a visiting Professor of
Earth and Ocean Sciences at the University of Southampton.
Prologue
In compiling this report I have walked around the relevant areas of Praia Da
Luz during the hours of darkness and then during daylight hours of high and
low tide. I have conducted reconnaissance flights using the Civil defence
helicopter. On 30/7/07a full site assessment of beach dynamics and a
digability study was conducted by me along with Professors Alveirhino Dias
and Oscar Ferreira coastal and marine dynamics experts. Additional
consultation has been made with Dr. Jorge Goncalves, a marine biologist.
These named experts all work at the FCMA (oceanographic centre) University
of Algarve.
Report Aim
'This report solely considers the search scenario that Madeline McCann
has been murdered and her body is concealed on the beach at PD Luz or
has been put into the sea from the shore.
The report considers the viability of burial on the beach and the likely
movement of a body if it entered the sea. It also considers the likely incidence
of such a disposal choice and any local impact factors that make this a more
or less likely event with the aim to inform decisions on any searches.
Praia Da Luz Beach.
In simple terms the beach is in a natural inlet and bounded by cliffs.
The winds are generally from the west and create low energy waves of less
than 2m. This is significant regarding any body disposal scenario from the
shore as the wave energy is not sufficient to "take a body" out to sea. Instead
a body would most likely travel eastwards in a re circulating motion along the
shoreline until it was trapped by the rock outcrop to the east of the beach or
consumed by marine life. If the entry point was the rock outcrop itself to the
east of the beach then the body would most likely continue in a re circulating
motion along the shoreline until it again encountered a barrier to its passage,
the most eastward of this would be 5km away at Ponta Da Piedade near
Lagos.
Sub Surface Burial on P D Luz Beach
For Body Disposal Purposes The Beach Can Be Separated And Discussed Into 6 Areas.
Figure 2. The boulders in the rock falls are too large to man handle. Vegetative growth suggests rock falls have been in situ for some time. The low energy wave action would not move any of the boulders. It is possible a small child could be secreted amongst the rocks in natural voids.
Figure 3. The cliff edge at the base of the beach is at an angle that inhibits soil removal. The shale re fills any hole dug and is unsuitable to achieve a burial.
Figure4. At the base of the cliff are wave cuts where the bedrock has been eroded by wave action. Here sand can be easily dug but after a few centimetres the digger reaches the bed rock, preventing a successful burial.
Figure 5. The beach cusps or berms are mounds of sand made by wind action. These cusps form at the limit of the tides reach and would only be recovered in storm conditions. Digging on the cusps is easy but to achieve as more than a few centimetres depth is very difficult to
the fine sand granules refill the hole
Figure 6. The dark sand in this image shows the intertidal area. Here digging and burial could
possibly be achieved although it would be through a mixture of grave1 and water. However any burial could be quickly exposed by wave action and ultimately taken into the sea.
Tidal Wave Data
Tidal data for the area of Praia Da Luz has been obtained from the buoy near Faro. It collects data on wave height and direction. However on 3* May 2007 the buoy malfunctioned and stopped collecting data for the month of May.
Data is available before and after this period and it could be inferred that these results are consistent with the missing relevant period as there were no exceptional storm events.
On the 2nd May 2007 the waves were of middle energy of a 2m height and a easterly drift. When data was next collected on the 22nd May 2007 they were now low energy waves of 0.5m to 1 m with the same easterly winds.
Low tide on the night of the 3* May 2007 was at 2200 hrs at 2m. The maximum amount of beach would be accessible including the rocky outcrop.
High tide on the 4n May 2007 was at 0415hrs at 3.1 m. This would mean that from 0200hrs onwards half the eastern part of the beach would be submerged and so access to the rocky outcrop impossible on foot.
Therefore if someone deposited a body into the sea, on the night of M McCann's disappearance, from the beach the optimum time window for full access to the whole beach and rocky outcrop was between 2200hrs and 0200hrs. This time window would also be the optimum time for burial in the sand, not withstanding the digability study limitations previously described.
The optimum time to throw a body from the top of the cliff into the sea would be between 0200hrs and 0400hrs as the sea would be at the cliff’s edge.
Conversely this would not be the optimum time window for a beach burial.
Marine Life
In relation to a body disposal scenario crustations could begin eating within a few hours if the body was not initially buoyant or trapped on the sea bed. If it was buoyant then crustations would be joined by fish and crabs once the decomposition process had begun.
Homicide Disposal Datasets
A limited search has been conducted of datasets that contain body disposal data in homicide cases (CATCHEM, SCAS, FBI). Although this search was limited due to the time constraints placed on this reports delivery an inference can be gained from both the data sets and the authors own case work experience. I have also consulted with NPIA and FBI colleagues to benefit
from their experiences.
The conclusion inferred is that beach burial is extremely rare. This should not surprise us as to dig on a beach is a high risk activity requiring expending time and energy when a more 'least effort" disposal is readily available, that is directly into the sea. Of those limited cases that were found to be a beach disposal the overwhelming majority were surface depositions with only one
recorded concealment using rocks on top of a 2 year old child (CATCHEM Database)
Discussion
Where a homicide occurs and the sea is accessible and nearby then it would become a natural disposal choice for an offender using the "least effort principle”. The beach itself would appear to merely be the platform to facilitate this. When this is considered in relation to the beach at Praia Da Luz there is a reinforcement of this view due to the severe limiting and inhibiting factors to achieve a beach burial there. If a burial was achieved there is a significant likelihood, based on the tidal coverage of the entire beach, that a burial would be exposed and or taken into the sea. If a body entered the sea it could remain close to the shore travelling in an eastward direction until it returned to shore or became trapped in the sub surface rocks.
The optimum time window, on the night of disappearance, to dispose of a body into the sea from the shore would have been between 2200hrs and 0200hrs. The optimum time to dispose of a body into the sea from the top of the cliffs would have been between 0200hrs and 0415 hrs.
Due to the normal high occupancy tourist activity on the beach and in the sea it could be considered a body would self expose and be detected.
In conclusion there is no intelligence specific to this case or generic datasets that support a scenario of beach burial. Additionally the digability study and coastal dynamics of the Praia Da Luz beach further limit this as a viable scenario. However should further assurance be required I would suggest a limited inspection around the rock falls at the base of the cliffs on the beach
and the waters around the rocky outcrop to the east of the beach.
Should the investigators wish to discuss and develop the issues raised in this assessment I would be happy to do so.
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Mark Harrison profile and reports
Processos Volume XI
Pages 2836 – 2839
Mark Harrison MBE
National Search Adviser
Homicide, Missing Persons, Mass Fatality Disasters
OP TASK Madeleine McCann
Search Activity 1 – 8 August 2007
This document follows on from the author’s two previous search documents and provides a summary of the search activity undertaken by the Policia Judiciaria (PJ) in Praia da Luz, Portugal between 20-07-07 and 10-08-07 following the authors search review and submission of his decision support documents.
The authors search review terms of reference were set and agreed with the PJ Algarve regional Director Guilhermino Encarnacao, they were;
1. Assist the Judicial Police and GNR in assessing new or previous areas searched and give opinion on the best methods and assets to provide assurance as to the absence or presence of M McCann's concealed remains.
2. Act as a "critical friend" to the officer in charge of search planning and management and offer immediate and enduring peer review until case resolution or search suspension.
3. Assist in the development of framework models such as scenario based searching to aid homicide disposal searching.
4. Consider further opportunities or areas for search in order to locate M McCann as applicable to the latest intelligence and information provided.
5. Where appropriate, provide independent and impartial advice on the enabling and disabling factors of specialist resources available either within Portugal or elsewhere in body detection.
6. To assist in decision support where requested by testing and challenging claims made by persons offering unorthodox search methods or devices to aid locating M McCann.
7. Where appropriate and requested, assist in advising on procedures to procure any non Portuguese specialist assets that are deemed to be relevant and useful.
In complying with these terms I undertook a series of briefings and site visits. These were with GNR and PJ personnel who had been involved in the previous searches conducted the week following Madeleine McCann’s disappearance in Praia da Luz.
The output of this process of reconnaissance and review was a written document entitled “Madeleine McCann Search Decision Support Document” (see appendix 2) and submitted to the PJ with copies supplied to Leicestershire Police and NPIA on 23-07-07.
It recommended considering re searching:
- All accommodation occupied by the McCann family and their friends as well as any hired vehicles.
- The villa and garden occupied by Robert Murat and any vehicles he had access to.
- Areas of wasteland adjacent to Murat’s and the McCann’s apartment.
- Areas of the beach in Praia da Luz.
- A portion of the coastline east of Praia da Luz.
These recommendations were based on the fact that these areas had not been previously searched with the specific intent to locate Madeleine McCann’s concealed and deceased body and that the areas recommended afforded likely and obvious places to consider for concealment in such an investigation.
This document was discussed on 23-07-07 with the PJ Director, myself and the Leicestershire Police liaison officer DI Neil Holden who made relevant notes.
On 25-07-07 the PJ Director decided his officers would re-search some of the areas suggested within the report. He also decided the order of their priority. These were the accommodation the McCann’s and their friends have occupied in Praia da Luz, the villa and the grounds occupied by Robert Murat, wasteland that surrounds these locations and any known vehicles the suspect, the McCanns and their friends had access to when Madeleine disappeared.
On 26-07-07 the PJ Director requested I consider the beach and marine environment at Praia da Luz for re-search and compile a report. I held meetings with coastal dynamic experts from the University of the Algarve in the presence of PJ officers and submitted a report to the PJ on 31-07-07 entitles “NPIA OP TASK Search Doc Beach and Marine” (see appendix 3) with copies sent to Leicestershire Police and NPIA.
On 30-07-07 a meeting was held with the PJ Director, myself and Leicestershire Police liaison officer DI Alan Orchard, who made relevant notes, to discuss the beach and marine environment at Praia da Luz and set a timeline for the PJ to re-search areas.
The search process was then initiated and continued over the following eight days. Throughout and at all locations I acted as an observer and search adviser. The PJ appointed a Chief Inspector as a search manager who was present throughout. Additionally, separate PJ officers were appointed to record and map each search location and provide a contemporaneous video commentary of all search activity undertaken. This system of management and recording was based on my reports recommendation to ensure record accuracy, transparency and facilitate any future clarification of any search activity undertaken. It was also essential that the official management and recording of the search was conducted by the Portuguese Police themselves rather than by British officers without any powers and not conversant with Portuguese law and judicial processes.
The search process used personnel to physically, intrusively and invasively explore all areas of disturbance, voids and concealment within the areas searched. The search utilised dogs trained to locate human remains and human blood, ground penetrating radar to detect sub surface disturbance and concealment, clearance teams to remove concealing vegetation, endoscopes to search drains and voids and metal probes to search the ground. These teams were supported by experts in Forensic Anthropology for human bone identification and a professor in geophysics.
The timeline of these searches was as follows:
On 31-07-07 the PJ conducted canine searches with a search warrant at apartments in Praia da Luz that had been previously occupied by the McCanns and their friends.
On 01-08-07 the PJ and GNR assisted by a canine, conducted searches on the eastern beach and wasteland in Praia da Luz.
On 02-08-07 the PJ conducted a search warrant at a villa in Praia da Luz currently occupied by the McCann family.
Later the same day PJ officers conducted a screening procedure involving items removed from the McCann’s villa.
On 03-08-07 PJ and GNR officers were given instruction based on translated extracts from NPIA doctrine on search management and procedures. This focused on search procedures relating to buildings and vehicles.
On 04-08-07 and 05-08-07 a search warrant was executed at the villa and gardens belonging to the PJ suspect Robert Murat. This search involved both PJ and GNR personnel supported by civil defence, geophysical equipment operators and a canine handler.
On 06-08-07 ten vehicles were searched associated to the enquiry.
On 07-08-07 the western beach and remaining wasteland areas were searched using canine and GNR personnel.
On 08-08-07 the drains around the apartment block where Madeleine McCann disappeared from were subject to a visual inspection by PJ officers.
Summary
The aim of the search activity was to re-search known and relevant locations in the immediate vicinity of the place Madeleine McCann was last seen using solely a search scenario that she was deceased and her body had been concealed by a third party. No human remains were located during the searches undertaken.
During the searches two Police dogs were deployed and although it has been stated that no physical remains were located in the area these dogs did give indications in several areas. These areas have been subject to a separate forensic examination that is beyond the scope of this report and at the time of writing laboratory tests are being undertaken. The dogs’ handler has submitted a separate report regarding the performance of the dogs (see appendix 4). However, it must be stated any such indications without any physical evidence to support them can not have any evidential value, being unconfirmed indications. Additionally I consider no inference can be drawn as to whether a human cadaver has previously been in any location without other supporting physical evidence.
The searches described in this document were limited to certain locations. Therefore, it can not be said that the concealed remains of Madeleine McCann are not within the village of Praia da Luz. During the first week of her disappearance the GNR tasked personnel to search through the village for the scenario of Madeleine still being alive. This involved visiting dwellings and business premises and a physical search of the refuse bins. A full scale re-search of the village is not currently advised due to its speculative nature and resource implications. Should new information or intelligence identify a specific location then it would be recommended to re-search it adopting the similar model of reconnaissance followed by a search using several detecting methods as detailed in this report to provide a high assurance of detection for a concealed body.
At the conclusion of this initial process of “clearing the ground under your feet” I am satisfied a systematic review and search procedure has been conducted and accurately recorded by the PJ.
I am currently of the opinion on the available information and statistical datasets that if death has occurred, that it is possible that Madeleine McCann’s body has been disposed into the sea at Praia da Luz. (See my second report entitled “NPIA OP TASK Search Doc Beach and Marine”).
Should further advice or support be required regarding search activity then I would be happy to consider such a request.
29-08-2007
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Mark Harrison profile and reports
Processos Volume XI
Pages 2840
Appendix 1
(These are photos from the searches, comments are in English)
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/P11/11_V ... e_2840.jpg
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/P11/11_V ... e_2841.jpg
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/P11/11_V ... e_2842.jpg
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Mark Harrison profile and reports
Processos Volume XI
Pages 2849 – 2852
Mark Harrison
Restricted
5.9.07
APPENDIX 2ª VICTIM RECOVERY DOGS & GPR.
This section describes the training and abilities of victim recovery dogs (VRD), the enhanced victim recovery dog (EVRD) and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR).
VICTIM RECOVERY DOGS
Search Asset Profile
Victim recovery dogs (VRDs) are also known as body or cadaver dogs. They are used in many countries to assist the police in locating concealed human remains. In the UK, police dogs are used that are trained and licensed to a national standard.
Pig carcasses are used to train the dogs in the UK as it is not legal to use human cadavers. This is an established training method and enables the dogs to successfully detect human remains in operational case work.
Enhanced training to produce a EVRD
The training of a VRD provides an alert response using Ivan Pavlov’s theory of producing a conditioned reflex, in this case barking, to the presence of detected decomposing human/pig flesh, bone, body fluid and blood. The dog will bark whether or not it is able to get to the source of the scent. The benefit of the reflex is that the dog will respond whenever the target scent is present. This enables the dog to be used in an investigative role, assisting experts in other fields, such as, geophysics.
An EVRD dog received additional training on human cadavers which were buried on land and submerged underwater. This took place in America and facilitated by the FBI at the University of Tennessee.
The scent detection threshold of the dog is greatly enhanced. In operational deployment and in training, the dog is successful in detecting human remains, bodily fluids and blood, to cellular levels that can be recovered by low copy analysis at forensic laboratories.
The proven capability of the EVRD is to:
Search to locate very small samples of human remains, body fluids and blood in any environment or terrain.
Identify sub-surface depositions to a depth of approximately one metre below the surface of the ground, depending on the scent permeability of the ground. This depth is increased substantially when the ground is “vented” prior to deployment.
Locate and give an alert to cross contamination by a cadaver. This is particularly valuable when the dog is used to assist in searches where the discovery of a body has prompted the investigation. The dog may locate secondary deposition sites and any areas of contamination, e.g. items of vehicles used to transport the body.
The generation, storage and migration of natural gases and body scent
Gases from decomposing human remains may be dissolved in groundwater depending on the pressure, temperature or concentration of other gases or minerals in water. Dissolved gases may be advected by groundwater, and only when the pressure is reduced and the solubility limit of the gas in groundwater exceeded, do they come out of solution and form a separate gaseous phase.
“Scent” (cocktail mixtures of gases) from organic decaying remains can move through bedrock by diffusion, which is relatively slow, but if the bedrock is fractured (e.g. by bedding planes, joints and faults) the diffusion rate is increased. Gas and scent from organic decaying remains also migrate through rocks via intergranular permeability or, more particularly, along discontinuities. The hydrostatic head imposed by groundwater flows may also influence gas/organic scent emissions.
Determination of the migration pathway of gas/body scent depends on the geological, geomorphological and hydrogeological conditions and an understanding of the victim deposition site. Factors such as the surface and groundwater flow paths, drainage, topography, runoff, precipitation rates, permeability of the soil and bedrock and hydrogeological domains, location of seeps and springs need to be determined if gases/human remains migration pathways are to be determined.
The age of the source does not affect the process of scent movement but it will affect the concentration, as will the rate of decomposition. Body scent may be transported by “leachate plumes” to emerge at the ground surface.
See figure:
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/P11/11_V ... e_2851.jpg
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
This consists of a radar antenna transmitting electromagnetic energy in pulse form at frequencies between 25 MHz and 1 GHz. The pulses are partially reflected by the sub-surface geological structures, picked up by a receiving antenna and plotted as a continuous two-way travel time record, which is displayed as a pseudo-geological record section. The vertical depth scale of this section can be calibrated from the measures two-way travel times of the reflected events either by the use of the appropriate velocity values of electromagnetic pulse through the ground.
The depth of penetration achieved by the radar pulse is a function of both its frequency and the conductivity of the ground.
The equipment benefits in use by detecting anomalies in the ground and is particularly effective through sand and concrete. However, it is limited in undulating terrain or areas where it is an anomaly rich environment such as a wooded area.
This equipment whilst readily available in the commercial surveying industry and university geophysics departments requires expert interpretation of the imagery for grave detection.
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Mark Harrison profile and reports
CARTAS ROGATORIAS 3 Pages 19 to 20
LEICESTERSHIRE POLICE SQUAD
WITNESS STATEMENT OF MARK HARRISON
Occupation: Police Officer
This statement, consisting of two pages, each signed by me, is true to the best of my knowledge and belief and I make it knowing that, if it is tendered in evidence, I shall be liable to prosecution if I have wilfully stated in it anything I know to be false or do not believe to be true.
Date: 2 May 2008
Signature:
I am an official with the British Police at the service of the UK National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) and work there as a special advising investigator. I was asked to respond to four questions by the Policia Judiciaria in a document sent by them. The questions appear in this statement in italics.
On 20.07.2007 I was sent by NPIA to Portugal with the goal of helping the Leicestershire police and the Policia Judiciaria relative to the disappearance of a child, Madeleine McCann, missing since 03.05.07 from Praia da Luz, Algarve, Portugal.
The terms of assistance we agreed to provide were directed by the PJ Regional Director, Guilhermino ENCARNACO after consultation with DI Neil HOLDEN of the Leicestershire Police and myself, the details of which are on page two of the document I authored, titled “Decision Support Document in the Search for Madeleine McCann” dated 23.07.2007 and presented as evidence MH4.
1. What criteria was used in the selection of local searches?
2. Considering the geographic location of Praia da Luz, where would a corpse be hidden?
In accordance to the referenced terms, the charge given to me by Guilhermino ENCARNACO was to comment on prior search activity by the PJ and the GNR in Praia da Luz and to offer a new scenario for the searches with the consideration of the hiding of a corpse and human remains. Assisted by Professor Oscar Ferreira and Alverinho Dias of the University of the Algarve, we conducted an assessment of the terrain of the immediate excavation areas relative to the viability of a superficial burial of human remains and also considering the possibility of a human cadaver having been thrown into the ocean in Praia da Luz. This assessment and the respective conclusions are detailed in the evidence MH4 and in ?Decision Support Document in the Search for Madeleine McCann “Praia da Luz & Marina” dated 23.07.2007, presented as evidence MH5.
The documents were submitted to the Leicestershire Police and the Policia Judiciaria and are detailed as to the areas of consideration in additional searches using GNR, and using canines and geophysical elements. My rational was based in the proximity of the location where Madeleine McCann went missing and the scenario of occultation of human remains. The prior search activities in these zones were concentrated in a scenario of a missing child, hurt or maintained captive.
After the submission of two documents, I attended two meetings in the Portimao Police headquarters on the 23/07.2007 with DI NEIL HOLDEN of the Leicestershire Police and the other on 30.07.2007 with DI ALAN ORCHARD of the Leicestershire Police. At both meetings, PJ agents were present and they were presided over by the Regional Director of the PJ Guilhermino ENCARNCAO who selected and established the priorities for the search areas.
3. How did the searches evolve?
Between the 31.07.2007 and 07.08.2007 the searches took place in Praia da Luz were under the command and supervision of the Chief Inspector Vitor MATOS of the PJ. He was personally present at the searches and at his request I accompanied him as an advisor. The searches evolved were multidisciplinary and involved the PJ, GNR, UK Police and the University of Aveiro. All the searches that occurred were documented in video by the PJ, including location, time and date stamps.
After the conclusion of the searches, a meeting in the Portimao offices of the PJ took place in the cabinet of Goncalo AMARAL and those present included Guilermino ENCARNACO, an official representative from the Leicestershire police, Martin GRIME and myself. During the meeting were exhibited videos with the details of search activities including the sniffer dogs lead by Martin GRIME. GRIME commented on the actions of the dogs and added that no confirmed evidence or information could be taken from the alerts by the dogs but needed to be confirmed with physical evidence.
4. In this particular case, based on the information and on your experience, what is the possibility that a cadaver was hidden?
As regards this question I am not in possession of any information or sufficient knowledge to comment.
On 10.08.2007 I concluded my posting and returned to the United Kingdom.
This statement was made by me and is truthful and in accordance with my knowledge.
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Appendix 4 and sniffer dog findings in here:
post425.html#p425
Related: Chapter 16: The hypothesis of death is considered. The arrival of the specialists.
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