UK NEWS

SEARCH FOR SHANNON CONTINUES

Sunday February 24,2008

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(6)

Police hunting for missing nine-year-old Shannon Matthews said that "significant" searches continue into her whereabouts and renewed their appeal for information.

The operation remains focused on the areas where the schoolgirl was last seen, police said.

Shannon, from Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, West Yorkshire, failed to return home from school after a swimming trip on Tuesday afternoon.

A spokeswoman from West Yorkshire Police said: "Significant searches are continuing around the area where she was last seen.

"We are continuing to follow up information from members of the public including the recovery of CCTV and the house-to-house inquiries are also continuing."

She appealed for anyone with information to contact the police.

More than 300 calls from members of the public have already been received and officers have searched over 200 homes within a half mile radius of Moorside Road.

Leaflets appealing for information about Shannon's whereabouts have also been distributed around the area.

The police operation, which has involved 250 officers and desperate day-and-night searches by friends and relatives, has so far failed to find a trace of Shannon.

Chief Superintendent Barry South, a senior officer in the inquiry, said that police remained "gravely concerned" about Shannon's welfare. "Anyone at this stage would be concerned," he added.

SHANNON

24.02.08, 5:44pm

Money does play a big part,but unfortunately the missing childs status also does.Madeleine Mccann is one such example but Holly and Jessica from Soham were the same. these were two middleclass children from a nice village who were missing at the same time as Milly Dowler,Unfortunately Milly was a teenager and both police and media know the general public have less sympathy with missing teenagers than younger children.Consequently Milly was generally ignored in favour of Holly and Jessica.The 9 months that have passed since Madeleine disappeared I believe are incidental,Madeleine's appearance as well as her parents' and also the status of the family were major factors in the reporting and frenzy of this case versus others.

• Posted by: miasara • Report Comment

NINE MONTHS

24.02.08, 4:16pm

You are right about the media going for the money and also about what a strange breed we humans are.
What I can't understand is for nine months the D.E.has promoted a certain child on the front pages everyday - even Gordon Brown has been involved to the extent of ringing the certain childs father we now have another child missing but the papers have not reported any acknowledgement of this case from G.Brown or any other 'celebrity'. If you saw the report on BBC which showed the back of Shannons home there were just a few reporters looking over to the house and I couldn't see many at the front. What a difference nine months make - then the people of P de L. couldn't move for T.V. crews and 'journalists. They cant even say its because the certain child went missing abroad as there was young Amy who disappeared, I believe, in Spain not much about her either.

Perhaps some investigative journalists- does one still exist - look into the matter

• Posted by: Beth • Report Comment

SHANNON

24.02.08, 3:06pm

The media will go where they believe the money and the headlines are. The story is incidental. Of course Miasara is right, Shannon is too old, too dark haired and from the wrong side of Town.
It always has and always will make a difference. I too hope Shannon is found safe and well. I also cannot help thinking about the body found in Jersey at the childrens home.
We really are a fantastic breed of animal arent we?

• Posted by: Lucabrasi • Report Comment

BETH

24.02.08, 2:43pm

Sad isn't it there is only you and I commented on this story.Is it just the media? they tend to go with public opinion.Is it our society that feeds the media in what story they will whip up? I hope to God they find this poor child alive and well,despite her misfortune to be born "up north" and brunette. Disgraceful reporting of this sad story,only mentioned about third story on good old BBC news as well.Parents obviously do not have right connections.

• Posted by: miasara • Report Comment

SHANNON

24.02.08, 1:06pm

Totally agree miasara. Isn't it amazing no funds being set up - no rewards being offered by newspapers no J.K.Rowlings or Richard Branson etc. etc. Doesn't it show our media for what they are?
When they were getting a freebie holiday the journalist are all there but lets face it these cold days up here in Yorkshire its not quite the same is it?
This is one pretty little girl why isn't she getting the same response as the Doctors child?

• Posted by: Beth • Report Comment

MISSING SHANNON

24.02.08, 10:47am

Why is this poor child not front page news? Is she not blonde enough?not middle class enough? This is a disgrace, to have a story on the front page which is yet more hearsay and probably mitchell spin, is extrordinary.

• Posted by: miasara • Report Comment