Britain's top policeman faced accusations that Madeleine McCann's disappearance was being given "unfair" attention at Scotland Yard.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson denied claims that reviewing the investigation into what has happened to the missing girl from Rothley could come at the cost of other inquiries.

At a meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority yesterday morning, London Assembly member Jenny Jones confronted him over the review and asked why the McCann case was special.

He replied: "I do not take your point."

He pointed out similar reviews into the Soham murders and the Jersey child abuse scandal.

Sir Paul said additional funds from the Home Office to support examinations could help save jobs in the force's homicide division.

He confirmed the government would reimburse the Met on a quarterly basis as the review into Madeleine's disappearance goes on.

Sir Paul added: "It is not an open cheque and it is not going to go on forever."

Speaking after the meeting, Ms Jones said: "I am just not convinced by the commissioner saying that he has extra resources that he can move around so that other victims will not have unfairly lost justice as a result."

Critics claim the decision to bring in Met detectives to review the evidence has undermined the force's independence and diverted resources from other crime victims.

Met Police officers have not yet travelled to Portugal but are in talks with Portuguese authorities.