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British Police Involved In Madeleine Case
Updated: 22:31, Wednesday September 12, 2007

British police are reportedly preparing to seize items belonging to Kate and Gerry McCann, Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt has learned.

Diary thought to hold clues Brunt said the Portuguese judge considering evidence in the case of their missing daughter Madeleine had signed a warrant giving British detectives the right to take a number of items from the couple.

These included Mr McCann's laptop computer and various correspondence, he added, saying that Leicestershire Police officers were likely to attempt to seize the items tomorrow.

Portuguese prosecutors are reported to have asked the judge to sign the warrant because they believe the items could hold vital clues to the disappearance of four-year-old Madeleine.

They are already believed to have a copy of Mrs McCann's private diary after asking the judge to sign a similar order.

Sky's Andrew Wilson said he understood that Judge Pedro Miguel dos Anjos Frias had responded to the prosecutors' request to seize Mrs McCann's diary and that "at least a copy" was now in their hands.

The McCanns' spokesman David Hughes earlier refused to comment on the diary as he left the family house in Rothley, Leicestershire.

He faced the media circus waiting outside the couple's home shortly after the family returned from a trip to a nearby park.

Earlier, it was reported the police wanted to confiscate Madeleine's toys, including her favourite Cuddle Cat.

Mr McCann's sister, Philomena McCann, said the possibility that police might seize the toy was a "disgrace".

"It would be extremely distressing for Kate because she has seen it as a symbol of her daughter since she went missing," she added.

She went on: "Why on earth do they ask for the toys now? Why didn't they think of this before?"

The judge is also sifting through a 4,000-page police dossier as Madeleine's parents face an agonising wait to learn if they will be charged over her disappearance.

He has 10 days to consider the contents - said to be stored in 10 lever arch files.

It is not known if prosecutors are recommending charging the McCanns over their daughter's disappearance.

Lawyers in Portugal say it is more likely he wants to carry out fresh searches, conduct more interviews, or impose stricter bail conditions.

According to Portuguese newspapers police on the case officers are planning new searches in Praia da Luz, from where Madeleine went missing on May 3.

Mr and Mrs McCann were declared "arguidos", or formal suspects, in the case during police questioning in Portimao last Friday.

They flew out of the country to their home in Rothley, Leicestershire, two days later.