Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley and Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood held a media briefing to discuss Operation Grange, the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

The briefing, held on Thursday, 3 October at New Scotland Yard, was an update on the investigation so far, and included the following points. 

The Metropolitan Police Service is receiving increasing co-operation from the Policia Judiciaria and Judicial Authorities.

The Policia Judiciaria and Judicial Authorities received the International Letter of Request (ILOR) from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

They have appointed a team of six officers in Faro, Portugal to carry out inquiries on our behalf. Accepting and then sanctioning the ILOR for action does not mean the Portuguese authorities will or have reopened the investigation.

DCI Redwood, the senior investigating officer in the UK, has just returned from a positive visit to Faro last week, and we are to revisit in a few short weeks.

AC Mark Rowley said today: "We very much look forward to developing a closer working relationship with the new team. We do respect the differences in our systems and understand that the work we have requested will be conducted by Portuguese colleagues. They have invited us to a meeting in a few weeks time to receive an update on those inquiries, prior to completion which is most helpful."

There remain a total of 41 persons of interest, 15 of which there are UK nationals. The work on three of those 15 UK Nationals nears completion with indications that they are not of any further interest to Op Grange.

Of note, we currently have 30 ILORs (31 including Portugal) in various countries following up requests for information concerning telephones used in Praia da Luz at the material time.

We have engaged with Crimewatch to assist us in a public appeal in their October programme, and have expanded our appeal for information to Germany, Holland and Ireland.

The appeal will piece together new lines of enquiry, and DCI Redwood will be appearing alongside Mr and Mrs McCann to appeal for information.

DCI Andy Redwood said: "The information and purpose of this broader appeal is based on phone traffic analysis we have examined, which determines the footfall of people in the resort at that time. Our investigation in the UK remains ongoing. The total number of documents we have to go through is 39,148, of which we have processed 21,614 so far. Out of those, 4,920 have resulted in actions to complete of which 2,123 have been."

"We continue to appeal for information. If you were at the resort of Praia da Luz between 28 April and 3 May 2007, either on holiday or in residence in the resort during this period, particularly in the vicinity of the Ocean Club, and you have not been spoken to by police either here or in Portugal then please call us on 0800 0961011 if you are within the UK. The number for non-UK residents is +44 207 1580 126. Alternatively if you do not want to speak to us directly you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."