More money pumped into search effort for Maddie McCann
Operation Grange, which launched in 2011 and aims to investigate the disappearance of Madeline McCann, has cost the taxpayer £12.5 million. Now, the force has been allocated an extra £350k to catch a prime suspect.
The Metropolitan police chief has previously said that the search would continue indefinitely.
“We are working closely with Portuguese authorities and the German authorities, and we will continue until there is nothing left to do,” police chief Cressida Dick previously said.
“There is not a funding issue. So far (we have) received support every time we have felt there was a line of inquiry to pursue.”
A spokesperson for the Home Office said:
“The Government has provided up to £350,000 for Operation Grange in 2021-22.
“In line with our Special Grant processes, funding for Operation Grange is approved on an annual basis.
“Ministers have approved a request for £349,328 of funding for this financial year.”
German prosecutor Christian Wolters previously said they had circumstantial evidence against the prime suspect Christian Brueckner:
“We are still building the case and at some time in the future we shall share the details with the suspect and his lawyer — but now is not the time.
“I cannot disclose the type of evidence we have been given. It is not forensic, I can tell you that, but it is new circumstantial evidence which all adds to the working theory that he is the man responsible.
“We have always insisted that the man we identified as the main suspect is the man we believe committed the crime and we are not looking for anyone else. I am optimistic that we will solve this case.”
“We hang on to the hope, however small,” said Maddie’s parents Jerry and Kate McCann.
