Cost of the Madeleine McCann Investigation

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.030681

I note you seek access to the following information:

I would like to know the following facts:
a) how much has it cost the British tax payer to investigate this particular missing person.
b) Why was Operation Grange sanctioned?

Decision

I have today decided to disclose some of the requested information. Some data has been withheld as it is exempt from disclosure and therefore this response serves as a Refusal Notice under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) by virtue of the following exemptions:

Section 21 – Information reasonably accessible by other means

Reason for decision

The information requested, question (b) has been identified as being accessible via other means as it is already published. Where information is already in the public domain we are not required to re-publish the data; instead public authorities are required to direct you to the information, which we have done in this instance.

Disclosure

I would like to know the following facts:

Qa - how much has it cost the British tax payer to investigate this particular missing person.

The current spend for Op Grange up to the end of 31 March 31 2023 is £13,175,806.

Qb - Why was Operation Grange sanctioned?

Details regarding the sanctioning of Operation Grange are available on the MPS website: Operation Grange namely that it was at the request of the Home Secretary, and that the then Commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, considered the request and took the decision that on balance it was the right thing to do. We believe s21 therefore applies to this question.