‘Lawrence’ force to boost major crimes squad

THE Yorkshire police force with the country’s lowest crime rate is to dramatically increase the size of its dedicated unit investigating murders and other serious offences.
Claudia Lawrence.Claudia Lawrence.
Claudia Lawrence.

North Yorkshire Police has announced plans to establish an enhanced Major Crime Unit in October at its new base in Harrogate.

The new unit, which will cost £300,000 to set up, will employ 31 officers and staff specialising in major crimes including homicide, kidnap and rape.

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Police say the move will give fresh impetus to the investigation of long-standing cases, including that of Claudia Lawrence, the York chef thought to have been murdered after she disappeared in 2009.

Dave Jones, who took over as chief constable in North Yorkshire last week, described the development as “a very positive step for the communities we serve”.

He said: “As a former head of crime myself, I can say with confidence that the unit will improve major crime investigation and support for the people we are here to help and protect.

“Importantly, the demands of major investigations on local Safer Neighbourhood and CID teams will be greatly reduced, meaning day-to-day policing will not be as adversely affected should a serious incident occur.”

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North Yorkshire Police, which covers a large geographical area with a historically low crime rate, currently only has two detective constables dedicated to the most serious offences. The team was considered a major crime unit “in name only” as most major incidents required officers to be taken from other parts of the force.

The enhanced unit will have 12 detective constables who will be encouraged to develop their “specialist investigative skills” to tackle major crimes more effectively.

It will also lead in the investigation of historic and unsolved crimes, including the cases of the eight unidentified bodies found between 1981 and 2008.

Among the high-profile cases likely to be re-examined is that of Claudia Lawrence, who was last seen on the afternoon of Wednesday March 18, 2009, after walking home from York University’s Goodricke College, where she worked as a chef.

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Despite one of the most high-profile investigations in North Yorkshire’s history and repeated public appeals by police, officers say they are still looking for a “critical breakthrough” in the case.

Detective Chief Inspector Nigel Costello, one of the senior officers in the newly expanded unit, said it could “potentially be looked at again” as it was still classed as an unsolved murder.

He said the circumstances of the case “lead you to believe that she has met a sad demise, probably at the hands of another person”.

Mr Costello said: “We can look at it thoroughly again rather than drafting in people now and again who are also doing their day jobs.”

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North Yorkshire police and crime commissioner Julia Mulligan, who controls the force’s budget, said: “The public has made it very clear that they want me to do all I can to protect local policing during these austere times.

“This is why the enhanced Major Crime Unit is such good news, not only will it improve North Yorkshire Police’s ability to tackle serious crime, but it will also help prevent local police being pulled away on investigations.”

The development comes after the opening of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre in York earlier this year and the announcement of a new ‘safeguarding hub’ serving the whole county.