update about Ben Needham

[Pedro]

My friends, this was taken from Sky News:

http://news.sky.com/story/1660576/extra ... en-needham

[Carana]

Crossing my fingers for some kind of breakthrough.


Police Fly To Kos In Hunt For Missing Ben Needham

Ben went missing on the Greek island nearly 25 years ago when he was travelling with his mother and grandparents.

10:00, UK, Monday 09 May 2016
Ben Needham was 21 months old when he vanished from the Greek island of Kos

A number of possible sightings have been reported since 1991

South Yorkshire Police is sending a team of officers to the Greek island of Kos to look for new witnesses in the search for toddler Ben Needham, who went missing nearly 25 years ago.

Ben, from Sheffield, was 21 months old when he vanished on 24 July 1991, after travelling to the island with his mother and grandparents.

Over the years there have been a number of possible sightings and a range of theories about what happened to the youngster, who would now be 26.

Earlier this year, South Yorkshire Police announced that they had received extra funding from the Home Office to help in the search.

Now, the official campaign to find Ben, headed by his mother, Kerry, confirmed that a team of officers will fly to Kos on Tuesday.
Ben Needham digital portrait

An artist's impression of how Ben Needham may look now

In a statement, Help Find Ben Needham said 10 officers were travelling to the island hoping to "find new witnesses as they urge islanders to come forward with any information which might help the case".

Police are expected to give a news conference at the farmhouse from where Ben went missing.

Video: Ben Needham Appeal: Dozens Of Calls

He had been taken to the site, in Irakles, by his grandmother, Christine Needham, to visit his grandfather, who was helping to renovate the run-down building.

Ms Needham said: "We believe someone on Kos does know something - and if they do please come forward. It doesn't matter how insignificant they think it is - if they have information let the police know."

In January last year, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Billings secured £700,000 of special funding from the Home Office to allow police to commit further resources to the investigation into Ben's disappearance.

This year, a further £450,000 was approved by the Home Secretary.

The Home Office backed a South Yorkshire Police operation in 2012 when land was excavated on Kos, near the farmhouse where Ben was last seen.

No trace of the little boy was found.

In 2014, South Yorkshire Police asked the Home Office for the Special Grant Funding to follow up information the family believed had never been properly investigated.

In May last year, Ben's mother, sister and grandmother travelled to Greece with South Yorkshire Police detectives to make a direct appeal on a Greek television show about missing people.

Police have investigated a number of new lines of inquiry as a result of the programme and the ongoing investigation into the toddler's disappearance.

Detective Inspector Jon Cousins said: "The lives of Ben Needham's family were ripped apart when he disappeared more than 20 years ago and their determination to find him has not diminished.

"They are more desperate than ever to find answers about what happened to him.

"It is likely that someone out there knows what happened to him and we will be appealing to people in Kos who have information to come forward and tell us what they know.

"The force is working closely with the Greek authorities to ensure a number of lines of existing inquiry are explored."

The Operation Ben team can be contacted on 0114 296 3022 or opben.needham@southyorks.pnn.police.uk.


http://news.sky.com/story/1692780/polic ... en-needham

[Pedro]

My friends, this was taken from Sky News:

http://news.sky.com/story/1692780/polic ... en-needham

[Whiterose]

Thanks Pedro

Lets hope it brings closure for Kerry and her family.

[catkins]

My friends, this was taken from Sky News:

http://news.sky.com/story/1692780/polic ... en-needham

Police Fly To Kos In Hunt For Missing Ben Needham
Ben went missing on the Greek island nearly 25 years ago when he was travelling with his mother and grandparents.
10:00, UK,
Monday 09 May 2016
Ben Needham was 21 months old when he vanished from the Greek island of Kos
A number of possible sightings have been reported since 1991


South Yorkshire Police is sending a team of officers to the Greek island of Kos to look for new witnesses in the search for toddler Ben Needham, who went missing nearly 25 years ago.

Ben, from Sheffield, was 21 months old when he vanished on 24 July 1991, after travelling to the island with his mother and grandparents.

Over the years there have been a number of possible sightings and a range of theories about what happened to the youngster, who would now be 26.

Earlier this year, South Yorkshire Police announced that they had received extra funding from the Home Office to help in the search.

Now, the official campaign to find Ben, headed by his mother, Kerry, confirmed that a team of officers will fly to Kos on Tuesday.

Ben Needham digital portrait
An artist's impression of how Ben Needham may look now

In a statement, Help Find Ben Needham said 10 officers were travelling to the island hoping to "find new witnesses as they urge islanders to come forward with any information which might help the case".

Police are expected to give a news conference at the farmhouse from where Ben went missing.

He had been taken to the site, in Irakles, by his grandmother, Christine Needham, to visit his grandfather, who was helping to renovate the run-down building.

Ms Needham said: "We believe someone on Kos does know something - and if they do please come forward. It doesn't matter how insignificant they think it is - if they have information let the police know."

In January last year, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Billings secured £700,000 of special funding from the Home Office to allow police to commit further resources to the investigation into Ben's disappearance.

This year, a further £450,000 was approved by the Home Secretary.

The Home Office backed a South Yorkshire Police operation in 2012 when land was excavated on Kos, near the farmhouse where Ben was last seen.

No trace of the little boy was found.

In 2014, South Yorkshire Police asked the Home Office for the Special Grant Funding to follow up information the family believed had never been properly investigated.

In May last year, Ben's mother, sister and grandmother travelled to Greece with South Yorkshire Police detectives to make a direct appeal on a Greek television show about missing people.

Police have investigated a number of new lines of inquiry as a result of the programme and the ongoing investigation into the toddler's disappearance.

Detective Inspector Jon Cousins said: "The lives of Ben Needham's family were ripped apart when he disappeared more than 20 years ago and their determination to find him has not diminished.

"They are more desperate than ever to find answers about what happened to him.

"It is likely that someone out there knows what happened to him and we will be appealing to people in Kos who have information to come forward and tell us what they know.

"The force is working closely with the Greek authorities to ensure a number of lines of existing inquiry are explored."

The Operation Ben team can be contacted on 0114 296 3022 or opben.needham@southyorks.pnn.police.uk.



Fingers crossed for finding Ben.

Here's to South Yorkshire Police finding the right leads.....and hoping the Greek police are more forthcoming accommodating than others...

[MelO]

Just listening to Kerry on the news right now - an interesting point is that the statute of limitations in Greece means that no one can now be prosecuted for Ben's abduction which might mean that people withholding information previously can come forward without fear of prosecution. Let's hope....

[Pedro]

you welcome Whiterose.

Whiterose, catkins, MelO, your words are mine.

[Winter]

Hoping something comes of this investigation and Kerry gets the answers she and her family needs. Wishing them the best of luck.

[Rob1]

I agree Winter. Give peace to these families

Not KTHopkins

Katie Hopkins
3h3 hours ago

Join me at 10pm @LBC; SATS rogue marker, apologising for Allahu Akbar & should we be searching for Ben Needham?

What is wrong with this woman? If it was her child she would want this. Not people creating trouble for ut.

[catkins]

Just listening to Kerry on the news right now - an interesting point is that the statute of limitations in Greece means that no one can now be prosecuted for Ben's abduction which might mean that people withholding information previously can come forward without fear of prosecution. Let's hope....

That is an interesting point and like you say could be very helpful............(although I don't agree with the time limit meaning no charges gggrr) but probably worth it if it gets Ben back.

[catkins]

I agree Winter. Give peace to these families

Not KTHopkins

Katie Hopkins
3h3 hours ago

Join me at 10pm @LBC; SATS rogue marker, apologising for Allahu Akbar & should we be searching for Ben Needham?

What is wrong with this woman? If it was her child she would want this. Not people creating trouble for ut.

More attention seeking and trying to boost ratings Rob.

[catkins]

Police: Could You Be Missing Ben Needham?
A £10,000 reward is on offer in the search for Ben, who police think may be living with a new family after disappearing in 1991.
13:20, UK,
Tuesday 10 May 2016
100516 Ben Needham's Mum Kerry
Play video "Missing Ben's Mum On New Search"

Video: Missing Ben's Mum On New Search
Share on Twitter
Share on Facebook
Share on Google+
Share by email
Police officers who have travelled to Kos to look for missing Ben Needham have made an appeal to local people, asking them: "Could you be Ben?"

The officers from South Yorkshire Police have begun a new search for Ben, who was a toddler when he went missing on the Greek island in 1991, and would now be 26.

DI Jon Cousins said: "We are not here to blame anyone or get anyone into trouble; we simply want to know what happened to him.

Ben Needham was 21 months old when he vanished from the Greek island of Kos
Ben Needham was 21 months old when he went missing on Kos

"If we were to find Ben alive, any decisions made about what happens to him would be a matter for Ben and we would work with him to ensure we come to an arrangement he is happy with.

"We have a sample of Ben's DNA and it would be very simple for us to carry out a test and find out if they are Ben.

100516 Ben Needham investigation - DI Jon Cousins
Play video "Police: Are You Missing Ben?"

Video: Police: Are You Missing Ben?
"This can be done in total confidence and no one else has to know.

"The question I would like people to ask themselves is: could you be Ben?

"As a child, did you have blond hair and blue eyes?

"Do you have doubts over who your parents are, or perhaps you look physically different to your parents?

"Perhaps there are no photographs of you as a child?

"If you have any of these doubts, please call us and there are trained detectives standing by to take your call."

A £10,000 reward is on offer, pledged by charity Crimestoppers, for anyone who provides information leading to Ben's discovery, even if they live outside the UK.

Screengrab
Play video "May 2015: Ben Needham Appeal"

Video: May 2015: Ben Needham Appeal
A key line of inquiry is a call received by the Missing People charity in 1993.

The caller said that Ben was living in Greece under the name "Andreas" and was being cared for by a man called "Nicos".

Ben, from Sheffield, was 21 months old when he vanished on 24 July 1991, after travelling to Kos with his mother and grandparents.

His grandmother Christine Needham had taken Ben to a farmhouse in Iraklis his grandfather was helping to renovate.

Earlier, Ben's mother Kerry Needham told Sky News the family had received a lot of support from the public, who "want to know the answers too".

She believes people may have feared talking to police in the past: "In Greece they have a statute of limitation and after a certain amount of time no one can be prosecuted for this crime, unfortunately.

"Now this timescale has lapsed, and there is no fear of somebody getting into trouble for this, then they might come forward."

http://news.sky.com/story/1693326/polic ... en-needham

[sal]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -pain.html

[scoobydoo]

Why has it always been assumed Ben was taken by gypsies and brought up as their own? Was this just a hope or did something happen to make the police think this was the most likely scenario?

[Rob1]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -pain.html

Ben's mother speaks very well. I hope this new appeal makes success

[Rob1]

Why has it always been assumed Ben was taken by gypsies and brought up as their own? Was this just a hope or did something happen to make the police think this was the most likely scenario?

Some time ago, an anti Mccann posted the opinion that Madeleine might be with a family who treat her well and create love and loyalty with her and that if she recognizes her real identity, she might not wish to create trouble for the new family.
I thought this is a depressing situation for K+G, but who knows? If a stolen child matures to love the new family, perhaps there exists this real possibility? Perhaps it exists also for Ben? A dilemma between ending the heart break for the real family and avoiding the false family (for whom great affection exists) arrests and jail?
What would be a solution in this situation? A type of amnesty?

[Whiterose]

Why has it always been assumed Ben was taken by gypsies and brought up as their own? Was this just a hope or did something happen to make the police think this was the most likely scenario?

Wasn't there a Dr. who said he saw a small boy fitting Bens description with a gypsy woman who he knew couldn't have children? He asked him his name and he said Ben.

http://www.primetimemedia.co.uk/2011/07 ... formation/

[Whiterose]

Why has it always been assumed Ben was taken by gypsies and brought up as their own? Was this just a hope or did something happen to make the police think this was the most likely scenario?

Some time ago, an anti Mccann posted the opinion that Madeleine might be with a family who treat her well and create love and loyalty with her and that if she recognizes her real identity, she might not wish to create trouble for the new family.
I thought this is a depressing situation for K+G, but who knows? If a stolen child matures to love the new family, perhaps there exists this real possibility? Perhaps it exists also for Ben? A dilemma between ending the heart break for the real family and avoiding the false family (for whom great affection exists) arrests and jail?
What would be a solution in this situation? A type of amnesty?

If a child is taken so young and the people care and love the child, I can see the child coming to love the new 'parents'. Ben was only 2 and a half when he was taken, it could be that he knows he is Ben Needham but doesn't say anything as he doesn't want all the upset and turmoil of what it would bring. If he is with a Gyspy family, the Gypsies tend to stick together and look after one another, and would easily be able to shield him from the outside world so to speak. Kerry said she had tip offs saying he could be with the Gypsies but that the police were too scared to confront them!!

In Madeleine's case, I don't know, she was almost four and now she is thirteen, she could still have memories of Kate and Gerry and her twin brother and sister. Having twin siblings I would have thought would be a memory hard to rid. Also her kidnapping would be embedded somewhere in her memory if jumbled. She may have come to love her new parents if they have treated her well and showered her with love and care, but I think if a memory comes to her and she thinks she is Madeleine she may tell someone.

[Rob1]

Ben wristbands

http://www.helpfindben.co.uk/wristbands.html

John Vickery If he is still alive Ben Needham would now be about 27 years old. He would probably not recognise that name. It is likely that he speaks only Greek. He might be married and have children of his own. Would it really help him if he were now to be found?
· 23 hrs
View previous replies

Help Find Ben Needham
Help Find Ben Needham Ben may not have had a good life and not fitted in all his life and felt different. On the other hand he might have had a great life .. either way he deserves to know the truth. What ben does with this revelation will be bens choice. Kerry is not expecting anything from Ben just for him to know she never gave up. xxx
· 5 · 3 hrs

[scoobydoo]

If Ben was taken and adopted then I doubt he would realise who he is as he was not yet two so is unlikely to have any other memories than those of his current family. It would have to be something pretty strong for him to suspect his family had kidnapped him. I also don't believe the doctors account is Ben Needham because Ben would not have remembered his name.

As for madeleine at nearly four she would have not been as easy as she would remember more and would have wanted her family at the time. But she would have eventually believed stories about her family no longer being there and grown used to a new family and memories will have faded and become shadowy.

[sal]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news ... 14-7977855

[Alibongo]

Thanks sal

It sounds very encouraging!

[Whiterose]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news ... 14-7977855

Thanks sal hopeful.

[sal]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/12222970/ ... ed-greece/

[honestbroker1]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/12222970/ ... ed-greece/

I hate stories like this.

Don't get me wrong. I would love it to be true. But the first anyone (else) should hear about it is AFTER loved-ones of the missing person have, themselves, been told definitively either way.