‘Chances missed’ to find Claudia because of focus on her love life

But she says she also thinks they will do all they can to find her daughter.

Miss Lawrence was last seen walking close to her home in Heworth Road in York on March 18, 2009 and officers have carried out what has become one of the biggest inquiries ever conducted by the force.

The missing person inquiry was upgraded to a murder investigation the month after she vanished, but detectives have failed to find any trace of her.

Joan Lawrence, 69, said police believed her daughter had a complicated love life and have focused on this as being the key to her disappearance.

She said she believed she may have information that may help piece together what had happened to her daughter.

Much earlier in the inquiry, Miss Lawrence’s father, Peter, who lives in York, also maintained that he had not heard from detectives for several months.

However, an independent review of the inquiry by the National Policing Improvement Agency found no issue with the force’s family liaison.

Last night a spokesman for North Yorkshire Police stressed that Mrs Lawrence had been
updated throughout its inquiries.

He said: “Mrs Lawrence has been frequently and consistently consulted and updated throughout the investigation into the 
disappearance and suspected murder of her daughter, 
Claudia. Every question she has raised has been fully addressed and she has received comprehensive support from dedicated family liaison officers.

“Mrs Lawrence has provided two comprehensive statements that have helped to inform the lines of inquiry being pursued by the investigation team.

“These have been subjected to rigorous external review and fully endorsed.

“Should Mrs Lawrence have further information that she wishes to pass on to the investigation team, we urge her to do so,” the
spokesman added last night.

In an interview, Mrs Lawrence, of Norton, near Malton in North Yorkshire, said she did not recognise the image that police had painted of her daughter. She also claims she could help detectives better establish what was going on in Claudia’s life.

However, she says she recently met the new temporary Chief Constable of North Yorkshire, Tim Madgwick, and found the meeting encouraging.

In an interview given to a Sunday newspaper Mrs Lawrence said she still clung to the hope that her daughter is still alive.

She said: “I often sit by the phone. Christmas Day was no different.

“Her dad and her sister have moved house so she won’t know where to call but I’ve stayed here and kept the same number in case she needs to call.

“I didn’t put decorations up. All I’ve got is cards on my mantelpiece.

“I’ve kept the ones Claudia sent me. I put them out too, it makes me feel she is still around.”

It is now almost four years since Miss Lawrence was last seen walking near her home and Mrs Lawrence says her greatest hope for 2013 is that she will finally discover what happened to her daughter.

One of the biggest grievances of Miss Lawrence’s relatives has been the salacious stories which have surrounded investigations into her love life.

Police have previously said her tangled relationships, which 
did include married men, have hampered the inquiry as former lovers were unwilling to come forward.

Anyone who can assist the 
investigation into the disappearance and suspected murder
of Claudia Lawrence should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101.

North Yorkshire Police said information can also be passed on anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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