Madeleine McCann: Scotland Yard in fresh review after parents' appeal to Cameron

Published on Friday 13 May 2011 12:18

SCOTLAND Yard is to take a fresh look at the evidence in the case of missing Madeleine McCann after her parents made an appeal for David Cameron to help them revive the search for their daughter, who vanished Portugal in 2007 shortly before her fourth birthday.

• Kate and Gerry McCann spoke to the media while launching their new book about Madeleine yesterday

The Prime Minister wrote to the McCanns to pledge action, having met the couple 18 months ago while opposition leader.

Home Secretary Theresa May said the Metropolitan Police would use its "particular expertise" to review the case and that the Home Office would provide "the necessary financial support".

In a letter published in the Sun, Mr Cameron said: "I have asked the Home Secretary to look into what more the Government could do to help find Madeleine.

"She will be writing to you today, setting out new action involving the Metropolitan Police Service which we hope will boost efforts in the search for Madeleine."

He told the couple: "Your ordeal is every parent's worst nightmare and my heart goes out to you both.

"I simply cannot imagine the pain you must have experienced over these four agonising years, and the strength and determination you have both shown throughout is remarkable."

Mrs May said: "I am pleased to announce that the Prime Minister and I have agreed with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner that the Met will now be using its particular expertise to review the case.

"The Met have skills, techniques and know-how which we hope can bring a new perspective to the case."

She said officials had continued to work "behind the scenes" in the search for Madeleine, adding: "Although it might not always be in the public eye, the British authorities have never given up on their work to find Madeleine."

A Home Office spokesman added: "Although she disappeared in Portugal, and the Portuguese retain the lead responsibility in the case, law enforcement agencies here have continued to follow up leads and pass information to the Portuguese authorities as appropriate."

He added that detail of what the Met's involvement would entail "will be a matter of operational judgment and it would not be appropriate to discuss at this stage".

Portuguese detectives helped by British officers from Leicestershire Police carried out a massive investigation into Madeleine's disappearance from her family's holiday flat in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on May 3 2007.

But the official inquiry was formally shelved in July 2008 and since then no police force has been actively looking for the missing child.

Later, in a statement, the couple welcomed the "review" and thanked the Government for committing such a significant resource as the Met to the search for their daughter.

"We welcome the Government's response," they said.

"This is clearly a step in the right direction.

"The expertise of the Metropolitan Police is renowned and we are reassured by our Government's commitment to the search for Madeleine.

"We would like to thank Mr Cameron and the Home Secretary for committing such a significant resource as the Metropolitan Police to begin this review process.

"We would also like to thank the general public for the way in which they have continued to support our campaign to find Madeleine."