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Plea to spread Madeleine message Plea to spread Madeleine message
(19 minutes later)
Internet users around the world are being urged to spread a new video message aimed at reaching a key witness to Madeleine McCann's disappearance. Internet users globally are being urged to spread a video message aimed at "pricking the conscience" of people who know what happened to Madeleine McCann.
UK detectives hope the film - which has new images of how the girl might look now - will prick the conscience of someone close to Madeleine's abductor. UK detectives are targeting the film - with new images of how the girl might look now - at Madeleine's possible abductor or people close to them.
Psychologists have been used to help persuade them to "do the right thing". Her father Gerry said: "We have to get under the skin of [those] that know."
Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, was three when she vanished from an Algarve holiday flat on 3 May 2007. Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, was nearly four when she vanished from an Algarve holiday flat on 3 May 2007.
Despite a massive police investigation and huge publicity worldwide, she has not been found. Despite a massive police investigation and huge publicity worldwide, there has been no sign of her since.
Seven languages
The latest video appeal - produced in seven languages - has been launched by Britain's Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop).
Police hope people will spread the new film via blogs, e-mail and social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.Police hope people will spread the new film via blogs, e-mail and social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
The new computer-generated images of how Madeleine might look now include one with dark brown hair and tanned skin, in case she has been living in north Africa. The new computer-generated images of how Madeleine might look now include one of her with dark brown hair and tanned skin, in case she has been living in north Africa.
We know that there is someone out there who knows who is involved in her disappearance - they may be keeping this secret out of fear, misplaced loyalty or even love Ceop head Jim Gamble, speaking in video appealWe know that there is someone out there who knows who is involved in her disappearance - they may be keeping this secret out of fear, misplaced loyalty or even love Ceop head Jim Gamble, speaking in video appeal
In May this year an image was released by the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) of how Madeleine might have looked aged six.In May this year an image was released by the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) of how Madeleine might have looked aged six.
But following concerns that it looked "too American", they created two fresh pictures.But following concerns that it looked "too American", they created two fresh pictures.
The latest video appeal - produced in seven languages - has been launched by Britain's Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop). In the video, Ceop's Jim Gamble appeals directly to anyone with information about what happened to Madeleine.
In the video, Ceop head Jim Gamble appeals directly to anyone with information about what happened to Madeleine.
He says: "We know that there is someone out there who knows who is involved in her disappearance. They may be keeping this secret out of fear, misplaced loyalty or even love.He says: "We know that there is someone out there who knows who is involved in her disappearance. They may be keeping this secret out of fear, misplaced loyalty or even love.
"Keeping this information secret only increases the anguish of Madeleine's family and friends and increases the risk to other children."Keeping this information secret only increases the anguish of Madeleine's family and friends and increases the risk to other children.
"If you know who is involved and are keeping this secret, remember that it is never too late to do the right thing.""If you know who is involved and are keeping this secret, remember that it is never too late to do the right thing."
He said the primary aim was "pricking someone's conscience, making them realise there is an opportunity to help".
"The people around [the perpetrator]... are being made complicit in this - it is time to turn a negative into a positive," he added.
He said the person they hoped to reach was likely to be a partner, family member, friend or colleague of the person or people involved.
He added they had consulted psychologists about guilt and how the campaign could "open the opportunity for an individual or remind them that they can redeem themselves."
'Redeem themselves''Redeem themselves'
Madeleine's parents Gerry and Kate McCann have campaigned vigorously to keep the case in the spotlight. Mr McCann told BBC Breakfast that because the message was targeted at a small number of people, the public's help was needed to spread it "far and wide" and expose a potential abductor and people close to them to it as many times as possible.
Mr McCann and his wife Kate have campaigned vigorously to keep the case in the spotlight.
Mr Gamble said the appeal came about after they wrote to him expressing frustration that lines of inquiry were drying up.Mr Gamble said the appeal came about after they wrote to him expressing frustration that lines of inquiry were drying up.
He added that the person they hoped to reach was likely to be a partner, family member, friend or colleague of the person or people involved.
The McCanns returned to Portugal in September as part of their campaignThe McCanns returned to Portugal in September as part of their campaign
"It is also highly probable that they, or someone close to them, is using the internet to search for any updates that may suggest the police are getting closer to discovering the truth," he added.
He said they had consulted psychologists about guilt and how the campaign could "open the opportunity for an individual or remind them that they can redeem themselves."
The message is available in English, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.The message is available in English, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.
It is being supported by police agencies around the world, including Interpol, Europol and forces in Australia, the US, Canada and the United Arab Emirates.It is being supported by police agencies around the world, including Interpol, Europol and forces in Australia, the US, Canada and the United Arab Emirates.
'Extremely grateful' Although Ceop does not work directly with the Portuguese police - who shelved their investigation in July last year - any relevant information received will be passed on to Leicestershire Police, who will share it with detectives in Portugal.
Although Ceop did not work directly with the Portuguese police - who led the investigation, shelving the case in July last year - any relevant information received will be passed on to Leicestershire Police, who will share it with detectives in Portugal.
Mr Gamble stressed that investigations involving missing children were never closed, citing the cases of youngsters such as Jaycee Lee Dugard, who turned up in California in August this year after disappearing 18 years earlier.Mr Gamble stressed that investigations involving missing children were never closed, citing the cases of youngsters such as Jaycee Lee Dugard, who turned up in California in August this year after disappearing 18 years earlier.
Mr and Mrs McCann said they were "extremely grateful" to Ceop for launching the new message.
"It is vital that it is seen and heard as widely as possible."
The McCanns have changed their official findmadeleine.com website to open with the message: "It's never too late to do the right thing."The McCanns have changed their official findmadeleine.com website to open with the message: "It's never too late to do the right thing."