SCOTLAND Yard is putting no limits on its review of the investigation into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance, Britain’s top policeman has said.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said his force’s re-examination of the case would be a “significant piece of work” that could produce recommendations about new lines of inquiry.

Critics claim the decision to bring in Met detectives to review the evidence about what happened to the little girl has undermined the force’s independence and diverted resources from other crime victims.

But Sir Paul said it was “the right thing to do” and pledged that Scotland Yard would carry out a thorough appraisal of the original investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance in Portugal more than four years ago.

“We are not putting any limits on it at this moment in time,” he said.

“We have no time scales yet because we haven’t produced the scoping. It will be a significant piece of work.” No Metropolitan Police officers have travelled to Portugal so far, but they are in talks with the Portuguese authorities.

Sir Paul said Scotland Yard’s international reputation and expertise made it easier for his officers to “open doors” than other organisations.

“Sometimes, we need to remind ourselves this is about a vulnerable missing child,” he said.

“I am a professional police officer, and when you get a request to do something about a vulnerable missing child, you should take that request very seriously.