Madeleine McCann: Search for missing Maddie dramatically scaled down

The Metropolitan Police, who have spent over £10million trying to find Madeleine McCann, have scaled down their investigation

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by Kayleigh Dray |
Published on

Explaining their decision, the Met said the "vast majority" of the work in its inquiry into Madeleine's disappearance had been completed.

As a result, they’ve cut the number of UK officers investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann from 29 to four.

These officers will follow a ”small number of focused lines of inquiry”.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, from the Met, said: "The Met was asked to take on this exceptional case as one of national interest.

"We were happy to bring our expertise to bear only on the basis that it would not detract from the policing of London; and the Home Office have additionally funded the investigation above normal grants to the Met.

"That will continue at the reduced level."

Maddy’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, have said that they "fully understand" the decision.

They explained: "We are reassured that the investigation to find Madeleine has been significantly progressed and the Met has a much clearer picture of the events in Praia da Luz leading up to Madeleine's abduction in 2007.

"Given that the review phase of the investigation is essentially completed, we fully understand the reasons why the team is being reduced.

"We would also like to thank the Home Office for continuing to support the investigation.

"Whilst we do not know what happened to Madeleine, we remain hopeful that she may still be found given the ongoing lines of inquiry."

Madeleine was just three-years-old when she disappeared from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal back in May 2007.

Since then, police have reportedly investigated more than 60 “persons of interest”.

No arrests have been made.

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