Police release video in hunt for Madeleine McCann

Published on Tuesday 3 November 2009 12:08

INTERNET users are being asked to assist in the hunt for missing Madeleine McCann.

The UK-based Child Exploitation and Online Protection (Ceop) centre today launched an online video aimed at appealing to the consciences of those who may have information about the youngster's disappearance.

The one-minute film features new images of Maddie with tanned skin and brown hair to show how she may look after living in North Africa.

Ceop hopes people will spread the new film – the first appeal of its kind –across the globe using blogs, email and social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Madeleine, who would now be aged six, disappeared from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal on May 3 2007.

Ceop head Jim Gamble, who gives the voiceover to the video, said: "The person we are looking to reach is likely to be a partner, family member, friend or colleague of the person or people who were involved in Madeleine's disappearance.

"It is also highly probable that they, or someone close to them, is using the internet to search for any updates that may suggest the police are getting closer to discovering the truth.

"We talked to psychologists about guilt, about how we can open the opportunity for an individual or remind them that they can redeem themselves, they can do the right thing."

Mr and Mrs McCann, from Rothley, Leicestershire, welcomed the initiative.

They said in a statement: "We are extremely grateful to Ceop for launching this new message around the world in such an effective way. It is vital that it is seen and heard as widely as possible.

"If you know what has happened to Madeleine, it is still not too late to do the right thing and come forward to your local police with that information.

"We love Madeleine. Please help us bring her home."