And to think that Kate herself gave the clue to Scotland Yard's possible agenda....
So Google led the way:"We are incredibly relieved and buoyed by these developments and continue to hope for further collaboration in the near future with the possibility of a JIT (Joint Investigation Team) between Portugal and the UK to enhance the search for our dear daughter."
Requests for setting up a JIT may often come from a Member State but could also often come from Europol and Eurojust. In some Member States this initial request must be in the form of a RogatoryLetterNow come to think of it... An arrest of the "Three Burglars" would never have been possible on a simple International Letter of Request. Only with a Joint Investigation Team would arrests be something to contemplate.
https://www.europol.europa.eu/sites/default/files/st15790-re01.en11.pdf
And then even the note sent in advance of the possible application for a JIT makes sense:
As some countries have implemented domestic administrative rules which, for example, stipulate notification of the competent ministries in the preparatory stage, the early involvement of all competent persons is of the utmost importance so as not to jeopardise or delay the whole processAnd even the involvement of the CPS makes sense then:
In England and Wales a request (for a JIT) can be made by either a judicial authority or a by a designated prosecuting authority. Judicial authority includes any judge or justice of the peace. CPS and RCPO (before the merger) were both included in the list of designated prosecuting authorities under Crime (International Co-Operation) Act 2003 (Designation of Prosecuting Authorities) Orders, namely 2004 SI.1034 of 2004 and SI.1130 of 2005.So to sum this up: A possible application for a Joint Investigation Team had to be justified preemptively. The obvious reason for such a measure would be an arrest (spin). And who would be the focus of such an arrest? Obviously a gang of burglars (three as the mystic number) (spin)
In order to preempt possible speculation regarding this:
Prosecutors must obviously satisfy themselves that the courts in England and Wales have jurisdiction in relation to the alleged offending. Prosecutors should consult Jurisdiction elsewhere in Legal Guidance for further information.Good Luck to the Team.
If the investigation or proceedings are cross-border in nature then it is possible that another state would also have jurisdiction to try an offence. Co-operation with international partners on such cases can help to ensure that best evidence is obtained, that duplication of work is avoided, and that concurrent prosecutions are avoided. Within the EU, consideration can also be given to the possibility of setting up a joint investigation team. Both investigators and prosecutors must be alive to these issues. If not, there is a danger that investigations can be compromised, e.g. by law enforcement agencies of two states investigating an offence unaware of the others interest. There is also a risk that prosecution in one state will prevent prosecution in the other state where stronger evidence may have been gathered, i.e. by application of the rule of ne bis in idem, double jeopardy.
And no, I won't translate all that judicial stuff, sorry...

















