Ben Needham – New Search 2025 on Kos Island for Ben Needham
On the 23rd June 2025 I wrote, via my Member of Parliament (Sir Ashley Fox) to Dame Diana Johnson. I made her aware of my long term involvement in the search for Ben Needham and my determination to bring resolve to this case.
It should perhaps be noted, I currently have an application, due to go before a Judge at the High Court, Strand, London. My application is seeking permission to commence a Judicial Review against a decision made by a Government Minister at The HomeOffice. The Minister who made the decision was Dame Diana Johnson. perhaps that is why she has not responded personally to my letter.
My Court application is an attempt to have a Judge at full hearing, consider the merits of funding of ‘Operation Grange’ for the financial year 2025/26. ‘Operation Grange’ is of course the Metropolitan Police Service, investigation in to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
Every 12 months since David Cameron became Prime Minister, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) have asked for funding for ‘Operation Grange.’ To date the Home Office from a special fund, have made 13.2 million pounds available to the Metropolitan Police Service. I think it is now time that someone asks a Court, to consider if funding should continue. It has in my view in recent years simply become a ‘rubber stamping exercise’ every twelve months – like clock work.
I have recently become convinced, there is a specific area, not far from the Farm House, where Ben was last seen playing, at lunchtime on 24th July 1991 that must be searched.
My letter to Dame Diana Johnson dated 23rd June 2025, pointed out, South Yorkshire police have already concluded, Ben most likely died that lunchtime, as a result of an accident with heavy plant a digger, which they said was operating close to the Farm House.
I am very disappointed, that Dame Diana Johnson decided not to reply to my letter personally. In absence of her response, it has taken Jess Phillips nearly three months to send a standard reply. The very scripted reply, sadly does absolutely nothing to progress my desire to search in a specific area for Ben’s body, that has never been considered.
Madeleine McCann’s family set up a limited company seven days after she disappeared. The company name is Madeleine’s Fund: Leaving No Stone Unturned. Company number 06248215. World wide mass publicity resulted in members of the public, business people and celebrities making big donations, which went in to this company. The donations were made on the basis that the funds would be used to search for Madeleine.
The public may be alarmed, when they become aware of the following facts.
The last set of accounts, filed at Company’s House, confirm a credit balance of just over ONE MILLION POUNDS.
The second very interesting point, which the Metropolitan Police Service have already confirmed to me is, at no time in all the years of ‘Operation Grange’ have they asked for ‘any money’ from Kate or Gerry McCann who with others, control this bank account.
‘Operation Grange’ since its inception in 2011, has been funded entirely by British tax payers. This continues to be the position.
Importantly I further understand, the McCanns have never offered any of this money, to assist the Metropolitan Police Service. I understand, they have said, when the Home Office stop giving money, to the Metropolitan Police they will be able to fall back on this fund.
I asked Dame Diana Johnson to help finance, my search of this important area, on Kos Island for Ben Needham. Sadly she hasn’t responded to me. Maybe she feels unable to, as she may well soon, find her Judgment in the further funding of ‘Operation Grange’ tested in my application at the High Court.
The case of what happened to Ben Needham, will not advance until attitudes change.