Oh wow, shock, horror, the Portuguese police take their usual lunch break.

Please, people, try to get out of your tiny insular attitudes once in a while!

The hotter, sunnier parts of Europe DO take a longer lunch break than we do here. Not just Spain and Portugal but Greece and probably other countries too. They also work later into the evenings than we do here.

They do things differently in other countries. Get over it!

As for the reported laughter - gee, how dare they relax!! Is there any proof that they were laughing at the McCanns? No.

In default of proof that this case has been mishandled (which so far I haven't seen) I suggest that we stop criticising a group of hard-working officers who are no doubt as distressed as anyone outside of the family can be about what might be happening or has happened to Madeleine.

Stop carping and let them get on with their jobs - yes, and have their breaks and their laughter too.

Liz G, Coventry,

It is lovely to read all the outraged comments of Europeans, sticking-up for their habit of long boozy lunches and as for the suggestion that Brits are lazy, given that we work longer hours with shorter breaks and more often than not, for lesser rewards and with higher bills to pay.
I have had occasion to work in Europe and, to be quite honest, they are no more or less idle than we are, just quicker to always accuse England of being the "bad boy" - meanwhile the US continues to plan it's domination of the world whilst no-one but the Russians seems to care.
To return to the point in hand, NO-ONE should drink at lunchtime, except in extreme moderation and then only if no-one depends on them for any service that may be affected by safety constraints etc. In this instance the Portuguese police have been particularly stupid - whatever your normal national attitude to lunch etc., you should seriously consider all your behaviour when the eyes of the whole world are upon you.

Alan, Portsmouth, UK

I would assume that the police officers in question were not laughing at the McCanns but merely at themselves as they appeared on TV! More on the lines of 'Did you really iron that shirt or did your dog do it?'

Bill Glanvill, Horsham, England

The two-hour lunch is a staple of many warmer European countries, which we would do well to emulate along with eight weeks of holidays per year. However, I do not offer the same support for Portugese policing methods.

Emma H., Orillia, CAN

Mr. JL from Sidney please do stay at the world's end because that’s where you belong. I am actually feeling suspicious that you work for the Spanish tourist board and you are trying to divert the influx of tourists from Portugal and into Spain. In your comments you have let us know twice that you won't be coming to Portugal and think that is the right decision because people like you are not welcome in my lovely little country. Tourists who do who come find a family oriented, gracious, independent and very hospitable nation, populated by kind hearted people who are always eager to help the many millions of foreigners who visit us each year. You say that Latin countries are different. Different from what? If being different means that unlike you money minded Anglo-Saxon people we actually live and enjoy life alors mon ami vive la difference.A final word of advice get out of your little perch of superiority and go and have a long lunch you may find that you feel less uptight afterwards.

Jose Bonito, Leeds, United Kingdom

Regarding the liquorful lunch hour: as a teacher I would not dream of drinking at lunchtime or indeed laughing about the people I teach. I feel the same should be true of any one in the professional sphere. However we should not be so quick to judge other countries and the way they do things. Are we so perfect? As someone who has lived in the Mediterranean the long lunch hour is actually a beneficial activity; at least the Southern Europeans know how to balance work with leisure so making people less stressed overall. Just cut out the strong liquor and be careful what you say in public about others.

HW, Wells, Somerset

Despite the terrible facts that makes up this case.
Who´s expected to have a seat at a court room, i believe a suspect. Neither the police or media agents.

9 to 5 is not suitable for police work therefore have it been brought to account the huge amount of working hours.

24/7, perment life risk, long hours shifts - "serve and protect."
Personal life, family to assist...
15m break and a candy bar gives high spirits and brings up the men´s moral. Police work is not celebrity red carpet.

Antonio Lopes, Lisbon, portugal

I have seen a British subject dead drunk on a glass of red wine in Portugal . If that is your measures I can quite understand your concern. One bottle of white wine for two people would knock out two English men but not two Portuguese. In Portugal, to my knowledge, drinking even moderately, is only forbidden while driving.

Maria, lesbon, Portugal

So the officers have two-hour lunches. And they were secretly photographed by foreign journalists. I call it a disgraceful and shameless breach of privacy. Did they have any break before having lunch or have they been working all morning without any food and drink? Whatever the answer they have all the right to have a two-hour lunch and above all have all the right to drink whatever they want as long as they don't turn up drunk in the office. Detectives are humans too! They need to relax, laugh, drink just like everybody else! And remember the cultural differences. Portugal is not Britain and vice-versa. Any criticism of the Portuguese Police must take into account cultural differences.

Daniel Fernandes, Kettering, UK

Hypocracy at its worst! If the onlooking diner was so concerned with Madeleine, then if rather begs the question
what were they themselves doing in the restarurant for 2 hours when then should have been out circulating leaflets or asking passersby whether they had seen Madeleine?
Oh I forgot they must have been on holiday relaxing.
Hang on....how dare they go to Portugal on holiday, enjoying themelves whilst Madeleine remains missing!
Before pointing the accusing finger at the police, perhaps this onlooking diner needs to take to have a long hard at themselves first. Madeleine story is sad but unlike some would have you believe, the world doesn't revolve around Madeleine!

KL, Oxford,

Please, who cares if the police in protugal drank at lunchtime, english people drink all the time...english parents, while presumably enjoying a glass of wine or two with their dinner, 50 yards from their children, lost their beloved daughter. and this whole carnival is getting ridiculously out of hand. PLEASE STOP!

Ben Davies, amsterdam, netherlands

As if the portuguese police were the only dealing with this...
As for lunch hours, portuguese have a nice lunch because we can. Underpaid workers should have some benefits no? No need to bleed for sunny vacations here.

rui, Lisbon, portugal

As a Portuguese citizen I feel everyday more angry about the British media, and their constant criticism of PJ. To be honest, I feel that the portuguese police is doing just too much about this missing girl! So many people/children disappear every single day in the UK and worldwide...is it not time yet to pay attention to other cases?!?Maybe because other families aren't so influential as the McCanns, their children just don't deserve the same treatment!

Ana , London, UK

Drinking any amount of alcohol, especially at lunchtime, has potential to effect the decision making process and with this case every decision has to be the right one.

Dave, Horsham,

One question arise
When are the British media or Britons to stop saying them (the Portuguese Police officers) how or what to do?
Mind them to look after their own business!

Jack, Reigate, Sussex

I think I hear something...it's the bottom of the barrel being scraped.

Anthony Charlton, Swindon,

No absolutely not should policemen be boozing on their lunch break, they haven't finished work, they're just having a break from it. And anyone, policeman or not who doesn't appreciate the sensitivity of the situation is heartless. And, it's not 'just another day at the office', 'just another day at the office' is processing traffic violations, or petty shop lifting'.

James Page, Sutton, Surry

This is Portugal. We recently had a holiday in Madeira (also Portugal), and there was a building being built near our hotel. The builders started work at about 8 a.m., stopped for a long lunch (not that I timed it), and then restarted and worked well into the evening. It would appear that the siesta isn't confined to Spain.

dave green, oxford, uk

Although it's true that Latin countries operate differently, I have to say the Portuguese Police force haven't impressed me with one bit of their investigation from start to finish. At times reading accounts of their methods seem straight out of Monty Python. After spending the last few days reading about the cover ups by the Portuguese Police in the Casa Pia Orphanage case - I have no faith whatsoever in them. I'll make sure Portugal is never on any travel plans for my family in my lifetime.

JL , Sydney, Australia

I have no problem with the 2 hour lunch part, that is a fine European tradition we should all be allowed.
BUT I fully agree with Marianne, alcohol at lunch for a policeman who will return to duty after lunch is just not on. Does any blogger here have a work contract which allows lunchtime drinking? I know mine specifically bans it.

JW, Atlanta, USA

I'm sick of hearing about the McCann family, kids go missing all the time & don't receive anywhere near the amount of media coverage.

Gary, Bolton,

Well it seems that some Portugese police behave pretty much the same way as some British Police, i.e.. very badly.
That said I think that the Portugese Police have not conducted things very well at all and they could have acted much much more swiftly in the very beginning when chances were high of finding kidnapper immediately after the snatch. Also their ludicrous laws on publicising details of someone they seek for a crme is nonsensical.

Sergei, London, UK

what is the point in this story big deal the police had lunch do you want them to starve, im pretty sure nothing major happened while they were out having food, this police force do have a life outside madelines case

sarah, belfast,

I haveread all the news reports about Madeleine and it is my sincere and deepest prayer that she can still be found safe and returned to her parents without delay. My heart goes out to the parents who are suffering so much and I only hope they do not read some of the wicked comments . Have these people no feelings of sympathy for the parents as they search for their dear little daughter. I appeal to those who are holding her to get in touch and let her come home. Have they no sense of decency? Have they no caring family? Did they not have parents who cared for them ? Poor child- may God be with her. Little Madeleine you are in my thoughts continually.
Keep on searching, keep on hoping is my message to Gerry and Kate . Many folk in N. Ireland are praying for you.

Meta Linton, Newtownabbey Co. Antrim, N. Ireland

Yes, the police should be psychotic, tunnel-visioned maniacs, who cry all day as they carry out their investigations... good lord, if you don't have a story, don't write one anyway, go and have a two-hour lunch instead!

Joe, brussels, belgium

People with such bad dinner habits shouldn't criticize other people lunch...

Silvia, Lisbon, portugal

This is becoming ridiculous. What happened to the legendary Lunchtime O'Boozes who used to staff the Fleet St. newsrooms? Maybe they all become teetotaller, non-smokers, vegetarians and ecologicaly healthy. Their choice, but in the name of fairness I'll allocate 1 or 2 minutes of my working time as a journalist to check if mr. David Brown sticks to glasses of water during is 5 minutes lunch breaks.

Jose Judice, Portimao, Portugal

This is normal behaviour on the continnent France Spain etc we are the hardest working in Europe so most people are lucky to get half an hour for lunch here so of course it will be shocking to see how the rest of europe spends its lunch. As long as they concentrate on the task at end why should anyone care what they do on their breaks? If its found that excess drinking or other behavious effects their work then thats the time that it should be looked into but now? No leave them be.

rob R, Eastbourne, East Sussex

Perhaps not quite as bad as spending your lunch hour downloading child porn. Remember the Soham detectives?

Siena, Lagoa, Portugal

I have no problem with the length of the lunch as that's normal for their culture. I do think it's incredibly boorish of them to laugh at the McCanns on television. They don't have basic manners in Portugal? The Portuguese police just don't seem to be up to this task. The whole so called investigation they've done has been even at the most cursory examination, pathetically poor. It's not surprising that paedophiles are flocking to Portugal if the police force is so ineffectual. I'll never travel with my family there after the shabby way the local police have handled this case. PLEASE can't the British be allowed in to take-over this case? Thanks David for the article. I hope you stay there as some of us still care about what is happening to Madeleine's case.

JL , Sydney, Australia

SCOTLAND YARD DETECTIVES CAUGHT HAVING A TEN MINUTE LUNCH
London - Two high ranking Scotland Yard detectives were today caught as they ate with their fingers at a well known fried chicken outlet in the UK capital. Onlookers said that the two detectives ate their fried chicken and chips without exchanging a word and were in such a hurry that they didn't even wash their hands afterwards. The two officers proceed two suck their fingers and left the restaurant in less than 10 minutes.

Civilized European nations have expressed their concern at this disgusting practice of eating one's lunch in a hurry.

The French leader said that his forbearers had fought in the French Revolution for the right of having a dignified 3 course lunch and was appalled that this despicable habit of eating fast food still persisted in some levels UK society.

We also asked the Portuguese prime minister to comment but he was indisposed with a touch of heart burn after eating a 5 course lunch.

Jose Bonito, Leeds, UK

I must say I came here expecting more reactions of shock and awe. I was very happy to see that this small sample reacts mostly with intelligence. Cultural differences do exist, and some are particularly visible in this case.

Of course, we are not perfect. The Brits are not as well. But sometimes the British press has a bit of a problem in dealing with that fact.

Antonio, Lisbon,

I've read this article and i'm still confused: was the lunch spicy or salty ?? This article was not complete. Better luck next time. I'm a portuguese journalist and I think that you're loosing your mind, guys...

Simply ridiculous.

Batista, Lisbon, Portugal

I'm kind of shocked with this.
It's is as if a portuguese newspaper said that Northern Irland police is doing a bad job in protecting the portuguese workers there because inspector have a very "heavy" breakfast or that they go to the pub at 6 o'clock. For britons that's normal.
As Eva wrote, in Portugal, Spain (and probably Italy and Greece) it is normal to have a 2 hour lunch, and its normal to have a few laughs, as the british police have afterhours in the pub.
What do reporters do in the Algarve in their freetime, besides making up news?

filinto, Oporto, Portugal

Disgusting behavior for even for this particular police force.
The Mccanns should get some real detective work
going instead of being so polite. I do hope the British have
their back and of course, little Madeleine's...

cindy, loco,

So they're taking two hours for lunch. They probably had a small espresso for breakfast and went straight to work. Like Eva says, it's perfectly normal to have a two-hour lunch break over there.

starling, Lancaster,

It's no wonder why this child has not been found yet. From Day 1 this investigation has been botched - and this is most likely what the predator who did this could count on. Clearly, these police are working at half the speed and accuracy in comparison to a more sophisticated force. I hope to God that the Brits are taking over involvement in solving this FAST. As for this incident making the news, I think that whoever is interested in this case has the right to know how it is being handled... obviously quite poorly.

Andrea, Toronto, Canada

Are you reading this while working?
Shame on you, you unproductive Briton ...

Laranjada Ovarense, Ovar, Portugal

If this story really happened. Here is my opinion:
Without watching the McCann on TV all would have been ok. But watching them and laughing it's a SHAME!!

In the place of the McCann I couldn't feel support by portuguese police. Apparently they don't feel and it's understandable. Besides of this: this bad behavior of the police coincide with the bad work they seem to have done: frontieres are close hours too late, the place of the crime is also closed too late, finding supicious became the work of journalists etc.

Being human has nothing to do with operating differently!

Isa, Paris, France, France

Please keep on updating us on whatever you can get. We appreciate your work.

Edith, Harrogate, UK

While it may be a bit much to expect officers not to laugh or eat (seriously, no one can really expect this can they?) I am quite shocked at the idea that it is acceptable to drink while on a lunch break, no matter what your job! Especially when this is an important job with a lot of responsiblity and a need for attention to detail. Drinking ANYTHING slows reaction times and affects performance in EVERY way, and "knocking back" a strong spirit would make it very difficult for these officers to do their job properly on their return from the break. If I did this (and I have nowhere near the level of responsiblity that they do in my job) I would be sacked immediately for getting drunk (or even a bit tipsy) and then showing up to work. I feel that these officers should be reprimanded for an activity that affects their job performance, and for a lack of discretion in general.

Marianne, London,

I have been following this story now for quite a long time and it is becoming just like the elusive Osama bi Laden, no on e in european country has published any thing about this story si, here .have all the symptthy for the parents hope they have the courage to admit that they are not going to find their daughter.

david, Dornbirn, Austria

Either in Spain and Portugal the normal time for a lunch is of 2 hours, in return, our finishing time for work is much later, around 8pm. To have a glass of wine during the meal is common and it´s accesible not only in restaurants but also in the workplace. I have to say, though, the behaviour of the Portuguese policemen, having wisky during the lunch break and laughing while watching the news, is disgusting and doesnt say much of how seriously they take their responsabilities.

Eva, Madrid, Spain

This is really getting quite pathetic - I had to double check this was the Times I was reading and not some red top rubbish. I agree with Eric Campbell - it must be a very slow news day indeed.

Phil, Reading, Berkshire

It is perfectly normal in both Portugal & Spain for a 2 hour siesta as the temperature hits it's height of the day. How people want to spend it - eating, drinking, sleeping, resting, reading, cuddling is their business. I do not see how it can affect their jobs, we all need a little relaxation from a stressful occupation.

alan, benalmadena, spain

For Goodness sake! Only now i realise how bad British media is... Get a live will you! Shame on you... you will write anything just to sell newspapers or have a high share of viewers. What next? Are you going to count how many times are they going to the bathroom???

carla, portugal,

And what do you do during your lunch time David? A journo criticising someone else for having a lunchtime drink frankly isn't a very credible position. I agree with Eric Campbell - it's about time you got back to some real work.

Richie, Brighton, UK

MR DAVID, YOU'RE EXAGERATING NOW
Please, take your responsability, and respect other people's work trying to find Madeleine.
Your contribution is now turning to negative contribution.

Zé Fernando, Lagos, Portugal

Of course other countries operate differently - even in the Spanish capital the two-hour lunch reigns defiant against the international marketplace - but even without the cultural question, this accusation reeks of hypocrasy: think any of those fat cats responsible for running the country/boosting the economy/working the photocopier will be doing jack-squat as of 1pm today? (Furthermore, Spanish offices are also out at 3pm on Fridays; at least they're honest about "free time").

hbw, Madrid,

I think it's time to let this story drop. Very sad for the family, but the smug superiority of this article is just not needed.

John Dixon, London,

The good days are coming to an end David. There never was much to report was there? But you've managed to stretch the story out as long as you can. What next? Tomorrow's headline - Portuguese Police Officers Found Sleeping Overnight - Madeleine Detective Reads Book While Off Duty. It's over David. You've bled it dry and you might as well admit it. Soon you'll have to start work again, instead of sitting in the sun dreaming up new ways to stay there sitting in the sun.

eric campbell, harrogate, uk

Sorry I don't think policeman should be drinking
on their lunch break. Hello!I don't know of many
people who get a 2 hour lunch break. I have been
a nurse for twenty years, and I have never had 2 hr.
breaks. Tell me how you can serve and protect
people while drinking on your lunch break?. As for you
Patrick, I hope you never go through what the McCann
family are going through. They have shown great
strength through this terrible ordeal. I pray for them
everyday. Why don't you try that instead of slamming
them!

Diane Nicklas, spokane, USA/Washington

Why should police officers have to show an appropriate level of piety during a case. Probable they have cases where a missing child has never been found. Does it mean they cannot have what is for them a typical lunch for the rest of their working lives.

Bob, Warsaw, Poland

Unbelievable! Now PJ can't LAUGHING while having lunch? They can't eat and drink a cup of wine? What is next? They can't have sex or sleap, neither?

susana, Lisbon, portugal

I propose to jail any Portugese found laughing or joking, showing no remorse and attempting no self-flaggelation, despite the fact that this most horrid of crimes happened in their wreteched country.

ruby, Epsom,

What's it got to do with that nosey onlooker about what the detectives do on their lunch break. I'm sure to them, missing Medeline is another day at the office. Granted; it's a sad story, but the world doesn't stop turning at anyone's whim. And then the grandmother comes along for a stab. You don't hear me telling you off for sleeping at night or having a brew whilst your grand-daughter is missing.

Zak, Blackburn,

When will the McCann family get it into their heads that other countries operate differently? If they're expecting to be served as in Britain, they should stay home.

Patrick, Norfolk,