The McCanns' spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, said the couple's lawyers in Portugal had applied formally for access to the complete police file and they would "be analysing everything in it in their own time without making elements public at this stage".
The McCanns, are hoping that the files will provide fresh leads in their own private investigation. The dossier is thought to stretch to 13 volumes.
Mr Mitchell said: "It's going to be a long, slow process, both for the lawyers in examining the volumes and for Kate and Gerry to be informed of their contents and whether there's any need for legal redress. The priority has always been finding Madeleine so the investigative work is first and foremost. If there are any leads from the files, for instance new sightings, that's what the private investigators will focus on in the first instance." (Sky News Friday 26th July 2008)