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| Police face stopping Genette hunt | Police face stopping Genette hunt |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| As the 30th anniversary of one of the UK's longest-running missing person inquiry approaches, police might stop the search if there are no new leads. | |
| Thirteen-year-old schoolgirl Genette Tate vanished while on a newspaper round in Devon on 19 August 1978. | Thirteen-year-old schoolgirl Genette Tate vanished while on a newspaper round in Devon on 19 August 1978. |
| Devon and Cornwall Police said that the investigation remained open and the force still appealed for information. | Devon and Cornwall Police said that the investigation remained open and the force still appealed for information. |
| But police sources said it could effectively be the end of the case unless any new developments arose. | But police sources said it could effectively be the end of the case unless any new developments arose. |
| Huge search | Huge search |
| Genette Tate vanished while cycling on her newspaper round within sight of her home in the village of Aylesbeare. | Genette Tate vanished while cycling on her newspaper round within sight of her home in the village of Aylesbeare. |
| Her blue bicycle and papers were discovered lying in Within Lane at Aylesbeare on Saturday 19 August 1978, promoting a huge police search. | Her blue bicycle and papers were discovered lying in Within Lane at Aylesbeare on Saturday 19 August 1978, promoting a huge police search. |
| She had been talking with friends only a few minutes before. | She had been talking with friends only a few minutes before. |
| Despite the search and thousands of local people also turning out to help, no trace of her was ever found. | Despite the search and thousands of local people also turning out to help, no trace of her was ever found. |
| Over the years, the Genette case file grew so large that at one point was is kept in a 12ft by 10ft (3.7m by 3m) document cage at the Devon and Cornwall Police headquarters in Exeter. | Over the years, the Genette case file grew so large that at one point was is kept in a 12ft by 10ft (3.7m by 3m) document cage at the Devon and Cornwall Police headquarters in Exeter. |
| The paperwork involved includes more 20,000 cards in a filing system. | The paperwork involved includes more 20,000 cards in a filing system. |
| The latest phase of the investigation saw a team of about 20 officers looking to see if convicted child killer Robert Black could be pursued as a suspect. There is insufficient evidence to justify the institution of criminal proceedings Devon and Cornwall Police | The latest phase of the investigation saw a team of about 20 officers looking to see if convicted child killer Robert Black could be pursued as a suspect. There is insufficient evidence to justify the institution of criminal proceedings Devon and Cornwall Police |
| Detectives began an investigation into his possible involvement when police found evidence putting him in the Aylesbeare area at the time. | Detectives began an investigation into his possible involvement when police found evidence putting him in the Aylesbeare area at the time. |
| He was arrested in prison in 2005 while serving 10 life sentences, interviewed and a file sent to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). | He was arrested in prison in 2005 while serving 10 life sentences, interviewed and a file sent to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). |
| The CPS said it was not pursuing any prosecution against him. | The CPS said it was not pursuing any prosecution against him. |
| In a brief statement, Devon and Cornwall Police said it had been informed by the CPS "that there is insufficient evidence to justify the institution of criminal proceedings against the individual arrested by the force in connection with the disappearance of Genette Tate". | In a brief statement, Devon and Cornwall Police said it had been informed by the CPS "that there is insufficient evidence to justify the institution of criminal proceedings against the individual arrested by the force in connection with the disappearance of Genette Tate". |
| Genette's divorced parents, John Tate, 66, and Sheila Cook, 63, have been told of the CPS's decision. | Genette's divorced parents, John Tate, 66, and Sheila Cook, 63, have been told of the CPS's decision. |
| Police added: "The force is aware that the 30th anniversary is approaching and would ask any one with further information concerning this unsolved crime contact the force."Case paperwork includes information on more than 20,000 cards | Police added: "The force is aware that the 30th anniversary is approaching and would ask any one with further information concerning this unsolved crime contact the force."Case paperwork includes information on more than 20,000 cards |
| The last line of the statement said: "The investigation remains open." | The last line of the statement said: "The investigation remains open." |
| BBC South West Home Affairs Correspondent Simon Hall said that while it was true the case would officially remain open, present circumstances meant that nothing could move it forward. | BBC South West Home Affairs Correspondent Simon Hall said that while it was true the case would officially remain open, present circumstances meant that nothing could move it forward. |
| He said: "Sources tell me there will now be a conference between the investigation team, senior officers and lawyers. | He said: "Sources tell me there will now be a conference between the investigation team, senior officers and lawyers. |
| "A great deal of resources have gone into this reinvestigation - considerable time and money. | "A great deal of resources have gone into this reinvestigation - considerable time and money. |
| "The view I'm getting from senior officers is that there is nowhere else to go and, unless there is some significant new development, that will effectively be the end of the case. | "The view I'm getting from senior officers is that there is nowhere else to go and, unless there is some significant new development, that will effectively be the end of the case. |
| "It means that exactly what happened to Genette is likely to remain a mystery." | "It means that exactly what happened to Genette is likely to remain a mystery." |