4 Mar 2010

Girl in NZ photos not Madeleine McCann, say police

7:02 pm on 4 March 2010

New Zealand police say a girl in CCTV footage taken in Dunedin is not missing British girl Madeleine McCann.

Police confirmed this week they had investigated a possible sighting of her in the South Island city shortly after the four-year-old's disappearance in Portugal in 2007.

The McCann family has released files from the Portugese police on the reported sighting of the missing girl by a worker in a Dunedin shop in December 2007.

Acting southern police district commander Inspector Dave Campbell says police sought the security pictures from the shop and they were given to Interpol. Police in Portugal did not pursue it further and closed the case in 2008.

On Thursday, Mr Campbell said police have identified the child and family and say it is not the British girl. Police will not name the family, nor provide any details of their identity.

Mr Campbell is asking the media to remove the photos of the family from their websites to protect their privacy.

He says the New Zealand Police are mindful of the stress on the McCann family from possible sightings of their daughter worldwide.