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Scotland
Yard will "bring their expertise" to the search for missing Madeleine
McCann, the Home Office said last night.
The move
comes after Kate and Gerry McCann made an impassioned appeal for David
Cameron to help them revive the search for their missing daughter.
A Home
Office spokesman said: "The Prime Minister and the Home Secretary have
agreed with Sir Paul Stephenson that the Metropolitan Police will bring
its particular expertise to this case."
The
spokesman added the Government hopes Scotland Yard can bring a new
perspective to the case and the Home Office will be providing "the
necessary financial support".
He went
on: "The Government's primary concern has always been and remains the
safe return of Madeleine.
"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.
"Clearly, the detail of what that will entail will be a matter of
operational judgment and it would not be appropriate to discuss at this
stage."
Earlier,
Madeleine's parents begged the Prime Minister to call his Portuguese
counterpart to discuss launching a formal review of the police
investigation into the little girl's disappearance in Portugal more than
four years ago.
Speaking
at the launch of Mrs McCann's new book, the couple had questioned the
strength of ministers' commitment to finding Madeleine, who was eight
yesterday.
No
details of what Scotland Yard's involvement will entail are being
released while the search continues.
Mr and
Mrs McCann welcomed the "review" and thanked the Government for
committing such a significant resource as the Met to the search for
their daughter.
In a
statement, they said: "This is clearly a step in the right direction.
"The
expertise of the Metropolitan Police is renowned.
"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." |
