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Madeleine McCann: Met Reduces Number Of British Officers Investigating Missing Toddler's Case

Madeleine McCann Investigation Significantly Scaled Back
Kathryn Snowdon
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The number of British officers investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has been cut from 29 to four, it was announced on Wednesday.

The Metropolitan Police (MPS) said there were still some "definite lines" of enquiry to pursue, adding that a team of "dedicated" team of officers will continue to work on the case.

Kate and Gerry McCann, whose daughter disappeared in 2007, said that they "fully understand" the decision to reduce the number of investigating officers.

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Madeleine McCann

The couple said in a statement: "We would like to thank all the staff from Operation Grange for the meticulous and painstaking work that they have carried out over the last four and a half years. The scale and difficulty of their task has never been in doubt.

"We are reassured that the investigation to find Madeleine has been significantly progressed and the MPS 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 enquiry. "

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Kate and Gerry McCann

Madeleine was three years old when she went missing from the family's holiday apartment in Portugal's Algarve on May 3 2007.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, from the MPS said: "The Met investigation has been painstaking and thorough and has for the first time brought together in one place what was disparate information across the world.

"This work has enabled us to better understand events in Praia da Luz the night Madeleine McCann went missing and ensure every possible measure is being taken to find out what happened to her.

"We still have very definite lines to pursue which is why we are keeping a dedicated team of officers working on the case. We have given this assurance to Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann."

Article continues below slideshow:

Madeleine McCann
Girl missing in Algarve(01 of30)
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A photo of Madeleine McCann that was taken when she was 3 years old. (credit:Facebook.com/Official.Find.Madeleine.Campaign)
Madeleine McCann(02 of30)
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FILE - This March 2007 file photo released by the McCann family Friday May 4, 2007 shows three-year-old British girl Madeleine McCann. British police say Thursday July 4, 2013 they have launched a full investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, and want to trace 38 "persons of interest" in the case. Detectives say it's possible that Madeleine, who vanished from a Portuguese holiday resort six years ago, is still alive. (AP Photo/McCann Family, File) (credit:AP)
(03 of30)
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FILE- May 2, 2012 file photo Kate and Gerry McCann talk to reporters in London to mark their daughter Madeleine's birthday and the 5th anniversary of their daughter's disappearance during a family vacation in southern Portugal in May 2007 shortly before her fourth birthday. Lord Justice Brian Leveson will release his report, Thursday Nov. 29 2012, on a year-long inquiry into the culture and practices of the British press and his recommendations for future regulation to prevent phone hacking, data theft, bribery and other abuses. (AP Photo/Sang Tan, File) (credit:AP)
Kate McCann(04 of30)
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Kate McCann, the mother of missing girl Madeleine, who testified in the Leveson Inquiry arrives at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London where Lord Justice Brian Leveson is to release his report, after a year long inquiry, into the culture and practices of the British press and his recommendations for future regulation to prevent phone hacking, data theft, bribery and other abuses, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Sang Tan) (credit:AP)
Kate McCann, Gerry McCann(05 of30)
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FILE - In this May 2, 2012 file photo, Kate and Gerry McCann pose with a missing poster, an age progression computer generated image of their daughter Madeleine at 9 years old, as they talk to the media in London to mark their daughter Madeleine's birthday and the 5th anniversary of their daughter disappearance during a family vacation in southern Portugal in May 2007 shortly before her fourth birthday. New Zealand police said Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013 DNA tests have confirmed a New Zealand girl is not missing British youngster Madeleine McCann. (AP Photo/Sang Tan, File) (credit:AP)
Girl missing in Algarve(06 of30)
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An undated photo of Madeleine McCann from the Official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page. (credit:Facebook.com/Official.Find.Madeleine.Campaign)
Girl missing in Algarve(07 of30)
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Kate McCann looks at an inflatable News of the World poster of missing daughter Madeleine measuring approx 800sq ft on the beach in Praia Da Luz, Portugal. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Archive)
Girl missing in Algarve(08 of30)
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Kate McCann, mother of missing Madeleine, during the recording of a television interview for the spanish television show "Los Mas Buscados" with images of Madeleine on a large TV screen behind her, in the Hotel Villa Magna in Madrid. (credit:John Taylor/PA Archive)
Girl missing in Algarve(09 of30)
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The GPR image that Stephen Birch believes shows a grave. (credit:Stephen Birch)
Missing girl in Algarve(10 of30)
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A photo of the May 15, 2007 search of the property in Praia da Luz where Stephen Birch believes he found a grave. The black box indicates the rubble pile he claims police never searched. (credit:Stephen Birch)
Girl missing in Algarve(11 of30)
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An October 2007 photo of the same location. Stephen Birch said this photo indicates the rubble pile had not been touched during the May 2007 search. (credit:Stephen Birch)
Missing girl in Algarve(12 of30)
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An overlay of the two photos. (credit:Stephen Birch)
Girl missing in Algarve(13 of30)
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An undated photo of Madeleine McCann from the Official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page. (credit:Facebook.com/Official.Find.Madeleine.Campaign)
Missing Madeleine McCann(14 of30)
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Kate and Gerry McCann in Quorn, Leicestershire, as they launch a petition to lobby the UK and Portuguese governments for a joint or independent review over their daughter Madeleine's disappearance. (credit:Rui Vieira/PA Archive)
Girl missing in Algarve(15 of30)
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Kate McCann, mother of missing girl Madeleine McCann leaves the village chruch in Praia Da Luz on the Algarve, Portugal, following a service. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Archive)
Girl missing in Algarve(16 of30)
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An undated photo of Madeleine McCann from the Official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page. (credit:Facebook.com/Official.Find.Madeleine.Campaign)
Girl missing in Algarve(17 of30)
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Kate McCann leaves a church service in Praia Da Luz, Portugal, 2 weeks after Madeleine McCann went missing on the evening of Thursday May 3. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Archive)
Girl missing in Algarve(18 of30)
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An undated photo of Madeleine McCann from the Official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page. (credit:Facebook.com/Official.Find.Madeleine.Campaign)
Missing Madeleine McCann(19 of30)
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Kate and Gerry McCann give a press conference in central London on their newly published book 'Madeleine' about their daughter's disappearance in 2007. (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Archive)
Girl missing in Algarve(20 of30)
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Business card sized leaflets showing missing girl Madeleine McCann, which were handed out to fans during the Espanyol v Sevilla Uefa Cup final at Hampden Park in Glasgow. (credit:Andrew Milligan/PA Archive)
Missing girl in Algarve(21 of30)
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Kate McCann leaves the special service for the 100th day of Madeleine McCann's disappearance at the local church in Praia Du Luz, Portugal. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Archive)
Girl missing in Algarve(22 of30)
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Kate and Gerry McCann make an appeal for their three year old Madeleine's return. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Archive)
Girl missing in Algarve(23 of30)
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An undated photo of Madeleine McCann from the Official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page. (credit:Facebook.com/Official.Find.Madeleine.Campaign)
Madeleine McCann(24 of30)
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Composite photos showing three-year-old Madeine McCann, left, with a computer generated age progression image of the missing child as she might look now, right, issued Thursday July 4, 2013. British police say Thursday July 4, 2013 they have launched a full investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, and want to trace 38 "persons of interest" in the case. Detectives say it's possible that Madeleine, who vanished from a Portuguese holiday resort six years ago, is still alive. (AP Photo/PA, Metropolitan Police, Teri Blythe) MANDATORY CREDIT ONE TIME USE ONLY UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE (credit:AP)
BRITAIN-MEDIA-POLITICS(25 of30)
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Gerry McCann, father of missing girl Madeleine McCann and a victim of phone hacking, speaks during a conference organised by the Hacked Off campaign, on the eve of the publication of the long-awaited Conservative proposal for a 'Royal Charter' for press regulation in Central London, on February 11, 2013. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW COWIE (Photo credit should read ANDREW COWIE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
BRITAIN-MEDIA-POLITICS-LEVESON(26 of30)
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Kate McCann, mother of missing toddler Madeleine McCann, joins members of 'Hacked Off', an organisation that advocates for victims of press abuse, as they make a statement following the publication of the Leveson Report into press ethics in central London on November 29, 2012 after a major inquiry launched in the wake of the News Of The World phone-hacking scandal. A major inquiry called for new laws to underpin a tougher watchdog for Britain's 'outrageous' newspapers in a move that threatens to split Prime Minister David Cameron's coalition government. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(27 of30)
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This theater image released by Boneau/Bryan-Brown shows, from left, Gareth Saxe, Madeleine Martin and Mary McCann, in a scene from Simon Stephens drama, "Harper Regan," performing off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company in New York. (AP Photo/Boneau/Bryan-Brown, Kevin Thomas Garcia) (credit:AP)
Kate McCann, Gerry McCann(28 of30)
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Kate and Gerry McCann pose with a missing poster of their daughter Madeleine as talk to the media in London Wednesday, May 2, 2012 to mark their daughter Madeleine's birthday and the 5th anniversary of their daughter disappearance during a family vacation in southern Portugal in May 2007 shortly before her fourth birthday. (AP Photo/Sang Tan) (credit:AP)
MADELEINE MCCANN(29 of30)
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FILE - This March 2007 file photo released by the McCann family Friday, May 4, 2007, shows 3-year-old British girl Madeleine McCann. London's Metropolitan Police said Wednesday April 25, 2012 say it's possible missing girl Madeleine McCann is alive and they will release a new image of the girl, who went missing on a family vacation in the Algarve coast in Portugal in May 2007. (AP Photo/McCann Family, File) (credit:AP)
Missing Madeleine McCann(30 of30)
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UNSPECIFIED - UNDATED: In this handout artists impression from the UK's national police centre for protecting children - the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre, a likeness of what missing child Madeleine McCann would look like today is seen. Madeleine disappeared on May 3, 2007 while on holiday with her family in Portugal and would now be 6 years old. (Photo Illustration by Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

Mr Rowley said the Portuguese police remain the lead investigators in the case, with British officers supporting the inquiry.

Mr Rowley continued: "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."

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