Disappointed and depressed: Father's agony as Claudia Lawrence probe is scaled down

The father of Claudia Lawrence has been left 'hugely disappointed and depressed' by the lack of a breakthrough in his daughter's case as police announced the three-year investigation was to be scaled down.
Peter Lawrence, father of missing Claudia Lawrence,  at a  Police press briefing at York Police Station , Fulford , York.Peter Lawrence, father of missing Claudia Lawrence,  at a  Police press briefing at York Police Station , Fulford , York.
Peter Lawrence, father of missing Claudia Lawrence, at a Police press briefing at York Police Station , Fulford , York.

Miss Lawrence’s parents were told this week by North Yorkshire Police that the review of the investigation into her disappearance and suspected murder had exhausted nearly all its lines of enquiry.

The force said in a statement today that its investigation was soon to move to what it described as a ‘reactive phase’ after three years in which 4,100 exhibits have been analysed and some 2,500 statements taken.

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Last year, the evidence gathered by detectives in relation to some of the suspects arrested over the course of the previous year was presented to the Crown Prosecution Service, who ruled that there was “insufficient evidence” to proceed further.

25/2/15 North Yorkshire Police Officers search an alleyway near to Claudia Lawrence's home in York.25/2/15 North Yorkshire Police Officers search an alleyway near to Claudia Lawrence's home in York.
25/2/15 North Yorkshire Police Officers search an alleyway near to Claudia Lawrence's home in York.

There is one outstanding line of enquiry, relating to DNA profiling, for North Yorkshire Police to deal with, but if that fails to provide a breakthrough the review team will be scaled down from next month.

It means that while the case will still be looked at by the new ‘cold case’ team run by North Yorkshire Police and Cleveland Police as and when new information is received, it will no longer command the resources that have made it the most intensive criminal investigation in the force’s history.

Responding to the news yesterday, Martin Dales, Peter Lawrence’s friend and spokesman, said: “Peter is hugely disappointed and depressed that despite the huge resources put into this three-year review by North Yorkshire Police it feels that we are no nearer to finding Claudia.

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“The police are to be praised for their efforts but he recognises that finding Claudia can only happen with new information from the public going to the police to assist them.

North Yorkshire Police supplied newly released picture of Claudia Lawrence.North Yorkshire Police supplied newly released picture of Claudia Lawrence.
North Yorkshire Police supplied newly released picture of Claudia Lawrence.

“It remains clear that the big jigsaw that is the case of Claudia missing needs completion and someone or some people are wilfully withholding the information that the police need to determine her whereabouts.”

The last confirmed contact anyone had with the 35-year-old University of York chef was when she spoke to her mother Joan on the phone just after 8pm on Wednesday, March 18, 2009. Miss Lawrence failed to attend work the following day, and was reported missing on the Friday, police say.

The review of the original investigation began in the autumn of 2013 under North Yorkshire Police’s recently re-launched Major Crime Unit.

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Nine people were arrested or interviewed under caution during the course of the review, though investigators’ efforts were hampered by the fact that some people close to Miss Lawrence “have not always been entirely truthful”.

25/2/15 North Yorkshire Police Officers search an alleyway near to Claudia Lawrence's home in York.25/2/15 North Yorkshire Police Officers search an alleyway near to Claudia Lawrence's home in York.
25/2/15 North Yorkshire Police Officers search an alleyway near to Claudia Lawrence's home in York.

A major appeal was launched to identify a man seen on CCTV footage near the chef’s home around the time she disappeared, but without success. Detectives say the man “remains of very significant interest”.

Mr Dales told The Yorkshire Post: “Peter has no criticism of the police. They have done, so far, all they can do. The investigators can only be as good as the information they get.

“It is not the first the investigation has been scaled down. It has gone up and down over the last eight years. What they really need is some person to tell them what is needed.”

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Reflecting on where the family would go from here, he said: “All we can really do is carry on doing what we have been doing for the last eight years.

North Yorkshire Police supplied newly released picture of Claudia Lawrence.North Yorkshire Police supplied newly released picture of Claudia Lawrence.
North Yorkshire Police supplied newly released picture of Claudia Lawrence.

“Suzy Lamplugh’s father said to us once that we should keep onto the police and keep her name up in bright lights, that is what we have been trying to do. There is no way it is going to stop, though some days it is more active than others.”

Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn, who led the investigation, said: “With the exception of one outstanding piece of work relating to DNA profiling, we have now completed all the work we set out to do and in accordance with the terms of reference set for the review.

“I acknowledge how sad Claudia’s parents and sister feel that we have been unable to give them the answers they want, and everyone in the team shares their frustration. ​

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“We have worked tirelessly for three years and we are sorry that we have not been able to prove what happened to Claudia, or to find her.

“It remains the case that people close to Claudia have not always been entirely truthful with us and have withheld information. And this has made our task extremely difficult.

“The review team will now be reduced in line with the reduced demand, but the investigation will always remain open - and regularly reviewed - until Claudia is found and those responsible for her disappearance and murder are brought to justice.”