Claudia Lawrence information ‘may be being held back’, say police investigating disappearance

On 10th anniversary of last sighting, investigators say they believe answer may lie locally

Claudia Lawrence disappeared on 18 March 2009

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence believe members of the public may still hold “key and vital” clues in the case.

The team at North Yorkshire Police suspect the search for the missing University of York chef has been hampered by people withholding information.

Monday marks 10 years since Ms Lawrence vanished at the age of 35. Although a body has never been found, police have been treating her disappearance on 18 March 2009 as a suspected murder investigation.

Nine people have been arrested or interviewed under caution in connection with the investigation. Police submitted files to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in relation to a number of individuals, but there was insufficient evidence to bring charges.

Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn said: “With some recent cold-case successes, the breakthrough has come from the public, and we still have confidence that this will be the case.

“It remains the case that we strongly suspect key and vital information is being withheld that could provide the breakthrough that we all want to see, not least Claudia’s heartbroken family.

DS Malyn added: “Unless we get information or intelligence to suggest that Claudia came to harm as a result of an opportunity taken by someone unconnected to her, me and the team still strongly believe the answer lies locally.”

Following Ms Lawrence’s disappearance, searches were initially focused on the route between her home on Heworth Road and the University of York. She was last seen leaving work at the university’s Goodricke College at the end of her afternoon shift.

Claudia Lawrence was last seen leaving work on 18 March 2009 (Getty)

Hundreds of officers across various forces were initially involved, but the investigation has been scaled back over the years.

DS Malyn said the investigation has been hindered by a lack of CCTV around her home, as well as the fact that she had neither a smartphone or a social media profile when she vanished.

“We know also that her mobile phone didn’t leave the area before it left the phone network,” he added.

“This again is a reason I don’t believe she fell victim to an attack by a stranger.

“Also, we have no actual scene where something untoward may have happened to her despite fresh forensic assessments of her house, car and other locations.”

The lead police investigator explained how some members of the public have been coming forward with information.

Despite being “well intentioned”, many of the calls are based on speculation or theory, DS Malyn said.

“The call we really want is the one that helps piece together the parts of the jigsaw we already know regarding her last movements and people she associated with and places frequented,” he added.