With thanks to Tony Bennett for transcript

Dan Lobb: Where are we at now with regards to ... the dialogue you have with the Portu ... Portuguese authorities - and how happy are you with the response you've got from, er, the request you have made?

Andy Redwood: OK, well I am meeting now on a very regular basis - at least once a month - with a Portuguese counterpart in Porto - north-west Portugal - um, she leads a review team of officers who are committed, and dedicated to working with us, collaboratively, um, to establish what has happened to Madeleine McCann.

Dan Lobb: Will they reopen the case?

Redwood: Well the situation at the moment is ... is ... is ... is quite simple: we in the UK in terms of our relationship with Portugal, operate two completely different legal systems. And we acknowledge and respect that, and indeed, in terms of how the Portuguese operate is ... is ... it's the judicial authority that actually makes the decision around any re-opening.

Dan Lobb: But you, you still, you still have that hope, do you ...

Redwood: Yes.

Dan Lobb:  ... do you, and that's what you're pushing for?

Redwood: Yes, absolutely ... 100%, the dialogue I have with my colleague in Portugal is very positive, and they do want to reopen in due course.

Kate Garraway: We've heard mention of these 195 'investigative opportunities'.

Redwood: Yes.

Kate Garraway: What does that - what does that mean, does that mean - leads? - chances? - of finding Madeleine?

Redwood: Yes, well our responsibility, we have a unique position, if you like, in terms of where are at present. We are drawing together three key strands, never done before - UK, Portuguese and private investigation material all into one place er in our incident room at Belgravia - and it is through that process that we are identifying investigative opportunities in our careful, systematic trawl through the material - er, so those 195 have come from our review of the history ...

Kate Garraway: So those ... that means they are basically ... being tied together? - links and ...

Redwood: Yes.

Kate Garraway: Basically tying together - links.

Redwood: Yes. This history of the case, where we've obviously started, is one part of the review, and that is where those 195 opportunities come from ... across a broad range of issues ... but it's just simply that we're unable to answer them ...

Kate Garraway: Mmm ...

Redwood:  ... in the United Kingdom, which is where our really important dialogue with the Portuguese police takes place.

Dan Lobb: Do you believe she is still alive?

Redwood: Yes, I do.

Dan Lobb: Why?

Redwood: I believe she's still alive because, at the beginning of this case ... it's a huge privilege for us at the Metropolitan Police to be part of this investigation ... er, investigation review. Is that we came with a completely open mind.

We were untouched by anything that's gone before, and, as part of that, two key elements of it is to go: 1 Madeleine is alive and the other is, sadly she's not ... and in relation to her being alive, yes, there is a real possibility that she's alive.

Kate Garraway: So what are the things that make you think that ... because I think you know we're all clinging to the hope, aren't we?

Dan Lobb: Yeah. I mean it's kind of hard evidence but there is still going to be hope - as long as she's not found dead

Redwood: Yes, I mean, you know, we have conducted a forensic analysis of the timeline, and there is clearly opportunity there - for Madeleine McCann to have been removed from that apartment alive - and it is our belief, as experienced investigators - on the evidence, that, um that you know, that that, that is as a criminal act - and that has been, you know, undertaken by by a stranger, and so from that - she's ...  and there are other cases around the world, as you know where, many years later, people have been taken and been found alive.

Dan Lobb: Very quickly, let's take, take another - another look at that picture that you guys have released - the age-progression picture, and in, in what ... what help this could possibly do to the investigation?

Redwood: It's a critically important stage for us, if you look at the image, you will see that it has great resemblance to a school photograph, this is the sort of image that every parent proudly presents - on their, on their dining room um you know, you know, your dining room table This image has been carefully prepared by a United Kingdom forensic specialist in human identification and ... and art and - close collaboration with Mr and Mrs McCann who agree that this is a close - close resemblance to their, to their daughter - and my appeal to the public today is clear - look at the image carefully please -

Dan Lobb: OK

Redwood:  ... you if you know where Madeleine McCann is, then please call us - or if you know, or if you have information about what has happened to her, again, please call us