Police will keep Madeleine McCann files secret until her kidnappers are brought to justice

THOUSANDS of police files detailing the British involvement in the hunt for Madeleine McCann will remain secret until her kidnappers are brought to justice, it emerged yesterday.

Leicestershire Police said it would not discuss their role in co-ordinating the search for the youngster who vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal in May 2007.

Their paperwork includes correspondence with ministers, details of leads and sightings as well as copies of letters from the McCann family.

Details of the Portuguese inquiry were released last year after the investigation was shelved.

Madeleine, from Rothley, Leicestershire, disappeared from Praia da Luz nine days before her fourth birthday.

Last night the McCanns? spokesman said: ?Kate and Gerry have always been very grateful for the amount of time, effort and resources Leicestershire Police have taken to search for Madeleine.

?Their private investigators continue to have a good relationship with them as the search goes on.?

MADELEINE POLICE FILES UNDER WRAPS

British police files on the hunt for Madeleine McCann will not be released unless those behind her d

Thousands of British police files detailing the hunt for Madeleine McCann will not be released unless those behind her disappearance are brought to justice.

Senior Leicestershire Police officers have remained tight-lipped about their role co-ordinating the search for the toddler since she vanished from a Portuguese holiday resort in May 2007.

 

But analysts at the force have drawn up a list detailing the mass of information they have gathered and considered whether they would ever release any of it to the general public.

The paperwork includes everything from correspondence with Government ministers, minutes of police meetings, details of leads and sightings to copies of letters from the McCann family.

Leicestershire Police said they will not release any information while the inquiry is ongoing and will never reveal the tactics of their investigation. But internal documents suggest some papers may eventually be published.

They stated: "Anything in relation to the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann will not be released whilst it remains ongoing.

"Consideration may be given to releasing certain material, ie, that which would not reveal police tactics, when the circumstances surrounding Madeleine's disappearance are fully known and the person/people involved have been brought to justice and a suitable period for any appeal has elapsed."

Madeleine, from Rothley, Leicestershire, disappeared on May 3 2007 from Praia da Luz, nine days before her fourth birthday.

An investigation into her disappearance was carried out by the Portuguese police, supported by Leicestershire Police.

The force is responsible for co-ordinating British inquiries under the codename Operation Task

From the Leicestershire Police, released on 18th December 2009: Operation Task Publication strategy

NEWS JANUARY 2010