Kate and Gerry McCann had appealed to David Cameron to launch an independent review The Metropolitan Police are to “bring their expertise” to the search for Madeleine McCann, the Home Office says.
Madeleine went missing aged three on holiday in Portugal in May 2007.
Downing Street said David Cameron had written to the McCanns to tell them that Scotland Yard had been asked to “cast a fresh eye” over evidence.
Kate and Gerry McCann, of Rothley, Leicestershire, said they welcomed the news, which came after they asked Mr Cameron to launch a review of the case.
In a statement they said: “We welcome the government’s response. This is clearly a step in the right direction.
“The expertise of the Metropolitan Police is renowned and we are reassured by our government’s commitment to the search for Madeleine.”
The official Portuguese inquiry into Madeleine’s disappearance ended in July 2008 although private detectives hired by the McCanns have continued the search.
“We really have come to the end of our tether”
Mr McCann
A Home Office spokesman said the government hoped the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) would be able to “bring a new perspective” to the case, adding that the Home Office would be providing “the necessary financial support”.
He went on to say that the government’s primary concern had always been the safe return of Madeleine.
“Although she disappeared in Portugal, and the Portuguese retain the lead responsibility in the case, law enforcement agencies here have continued to follow up leads and pass information to the Portuguese authorities as appropriate.
“The prime minister and the home secretary have today agreed with (Met Police commissioner) Sir Paul Stephenson that the Metropolitan Police will bring its particular expertise to this case.
“Clearly, the detail of what that will entail will be a matter of operational judgement and it would not be appropriate to discuss at this stage,” he said.
Earlier, in open letter published by the Sun, Madeleine McCann’s parents asked Mr Cameron to launch an “independent, transparent and comprehensive” review of all information relating to the disappearance of their daughter.
Madeleine disappeared just before her fourth birthday And speaking at the launch of Mrs McCann’s new book about their ordeal, they called on the PM to offer Portuguese caretaker prime minister Jose Socrates the services of the Metropolitan Police to review the investigation looking for unpursued lines of inquiry.
The McCanns also urged Mr Cameron to call his Portuguese counterpart to discuss launching a formal review of the police investigation.
The couple hope that Mrs McCann’s book, call Madeleine, will revive public support and boost their fund for private detectives to search for their daughter.
Apart from raising funds, Mrs McCann said she also wrote the book to provide a truthful account of events for their twins, who are now six.
Mr McCann, 42, disclosed his frustration at the lack of progress since he and his wife first asked for a full cold case review in 2009.
“We really have come to the end of our tether. We want to see action from the government, not rhetoric,” he said.
“When you’re in a position such as the prime minister, you have a responsibility. If you’re not willing to work for a child, you have to ask, ‘Who are you working for?'”
Former home secretary Alan Johnson commissioned a scoping exercise by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (Ceop) centre to look at the feasibility of carrying out a review of the case.
This was completed in March 2010, but Mr McCann said Mrs May refused to let him and his wife see it because it was “sensitive”.
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