No it's proper abductions. Gone missing is a category as is uncle Fred. In fact in 2011 there were about 200, if I recall correctly. Here's the report I skimmed earlier. See page 36.

http://ceop.police.uk/Documents/ceop...nal%20Copy.pdf

One gets a gobful from stangers for tethering children, though I can't say that ever bothered me. It's somewhat ironic that reins are out of fashion and so is kicking them out to play until supper time.

OK, then proper abductions are as common as lightning striking a person. I assume this includes abductions by family members and/or the other parent so actual stranger abductions are rare as hens' teeth.

Oh we do that. Some sliver of sanity is required.

273 victims (abducted by strangers) in 2011 according to the report. Not really hens teeth.

I did that too. But, by way of balance, I'd bellow at them, as they went off to parties, from the age of four or so, "have you got a condom?", "don't get in cars with weirdos you don't know", "stay away from the chemicals, stick with weed and booze". One does one's best to foster both independence and prudence in one's children.

Yeah, totally agree. I also agree that other children go missing every year and don't get this much 'paid for' media attention. What's in it for the McCanns ? I mean, really ? Clear their name of all the rumours ?

Do I know where Madelaine McCann is ? No, and I wasn't out drinking on the night she disappeared either. Did the girl's mother really exclaim, 'they've taken her ?'

I'd heard that:

"About 60-100 "stranger abductions" are said to take place in Britain annually, if anything the statistical trend seems fairly even."

but I suppose that was wrong.

When am I getting mine ? I've agreed with the poster you denigrate. Good luck with your, 'once upon a time' view of child rearing.

Here's a bit more ammunition for you: I don't have and don't want children.

I was being conservative (based on other articles and Hansard). Of course annually and 2011 are different beasts. Apologies for the confusion.

But if the kids and abductors are never found and then how can you be certain it wad a stranger?

I hear ya

According to the Crimewatch reconstruction, the key suspect has been ruled out, and now there is a new key suspect who has been identified by an efit image. Amazingly, they received 1000 calls from this televised appeal.

Nevertheless, the reconstruction did have some peculiarities. At the time of discovery, KM enters the flat and notices the kids' room door more ajar than it should be, she decides to close it without bothering to make visual confirmation of Madeleine (which presumably was her reason for being there) and the door slams shut because of the wind (open window). It is that slamming that causes her to think twice and open the door again, she then notices the forced window, and then notices her daughter missing.

The efit looks like the dad ....

OMG!

But it doesn't really.

Apparently the efit guy was carrying Maddy 500 m through the town streets. That seems a bit implausible (no get away vehicle).

That's what I thought.