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'Nightmare' goes on for girl's family
DETECTIVES have vowed to hunt on for Charlene Downes.
The teenager vanished in November 2003 but, despite a massive police operation, she has not been found.
Det Supt Paul Buschini, leading the inquiry, today insisted police have not given up.
Parents Karen and Robert said they felt "angry and betrayed" police had not done enough to find their daughter, now 16.
Mrs Downes said: "I don't think Charlene can be in Blackpool any more. With all the publicity we have had locally, someone would have seen her or she would have been in touch knowing how much we miss her.
"She must have gone further away, or been taken by someone. I want to know why the police did not approach Crimewatch for an appeal. It could be too late now but anything is worth a try."
But Det Supt Buschini said police had done everything to trace Charlene.
The Gazette has made appeals on each of Charlene's birthdays since she disappeared, on anniversaries and Christmas.
Both national and regional TV appeals have been made with poster and leaflet drops at motorway service stations across the country.
Her disappearance also featured on the daytime TV show, Missing. She is also registered on a missing person website.
Det Supt Buschini said: "This has had national and local coverage at regular intervals throughout the course of the inquiry. There has been a lot of coverage on the radio and in newspapers and half of a national television programme in the last few months.
"We have been in touch with Crimewatch regularly about this case, but I can't discuss the details of those conversations.
"The incident room is still open and we are in constant contact with Charlene's family."
Mrs Downes added: "My daughter has been missing for two years, not knowing and imagining the worst is a nightmare."
* If you have any information about Charlene's whereabouts, contact Blackpool Police on (01253) 293933.
heather.butler@blackpoolgazette.co.uk
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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