Last year it appeared that the search for missing Madeleine McCann was intensifying, with UK detectives apparently making progress in their hunt for clues.
But 8 years after the 3-year-old disappeared from her family's holiday apartment in Portugal's Praia da Luz, a police boss has now claimed that the search should be called off.
Chairman of the Met Police Federation John Tully says: “It’s time to re-focus on what we need to do to keep London safe.
"We no longer have the resources to conduct specialist inquiries all over the world which have nothing to do with London."
He continued: “The Met has long been seen as the last resort for investigations others have struggled with elsewhere. It is surprising to see an inquiry like the McCann investigation ring-fenced. I’ve heard a few rumblings of discontent about it from lots of sources.
“When the force is facing a spike in murder investigations, it’s not surprising there is resentment of significant resources diverted to a case that has no apparent connection to London.”
So far the search for Maddie has cost in the region of £10 million, part of which was paid for by the intensive fundraising of Kate and Gerry McCann.
As Maddie’s 12th birthday approaches it is understood that her parents will continue fighting for the search to continue.