The Met Police has applied for more funding for the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
The three-year-old disappeared from a holiday apartment in Portugal on May 3, 2007 sparking one of the largest missing person searches in history.
It emerged today that Scotland Yard wants to extend Operation Grange, its own probe into the case, which has so far cost more than £11million.
The Metropolitan Police has applied for extra money to continue the investigation into the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann, it emerged today
The Home Office, which funds the police, will now consider whether to grant the extra funding.
A spokesman for the government department said: ‘The Home Office has provided funding to the Metropolitan Police for Operation Grange and the resources required are reviewed regularly with careful consideration given before any new funding is allocated.’
It is unclear how much extra cash police chiefs are applying for, although Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley insisted earlier this year that there are still ‘critical’ leads, which are of ‘great interest’ to detectives.
He said Madeleine could still be alive and described the possibility of a ‘burglary gone wrong’ as a ‘sensible hypothesis’ which has not been ‘entirely ruled out’.
Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry McCann said they were ‘very grateful’ for an £85,000 cash injection from the Home Office into the investigation in March this year.
A freedom of information request also showed that, in 2014, Operation Grange officers spent almost £16,000 on 67 return flights to Portugal.
British police officers vistited the area where Madeleine went missing in 2014, but failed to find any evidence on a patch of land which was searched
But it emerged earlier this year that officers on the operation made just two flights to Portugal last year, prompting claims the investigation was being scaled down.
In an interview in April this year, nearly a decade on from Madeleine’s disappearance, Mr Rowley ruled out Madeleine’s parents as possible suspects.
He said: ‘The parents’ involvement: that was dealt with at the time by the original investigation by the Portuguese.
‘We’re happy that’s completely dealt with and there is no reason whatsoever to re-open that or start rumours that’s a line of investigation.
‘The McCanns are the parents of a missing girl and we’re trying to get to the bottom of what happened.’
The McCanns are reportedly prepared to bring in private detectives if the Met ends its probe
Mr Rowley said there was no ‘definitive evidence’ as to whether Madeleine is alive or dead.
He added: ‘That’s why we describe it as a missing person inquiry. We understand why, after this many years, people will be pessimistic, but it’s important we keep an open mind.’
The officer added that however Madeleine left the apartment, she was abducted.
‘She wasn’t old enough to make a decision to set off and start her own life,’ he said.
The McCanns are not commenting on the latest move at this stage.