Detective thanks public for 'new information' leading to Claudia Lawrence search
Video report by Rachel Bullock
Police are continuing to search gravel pits near York as part of their investigation into the disappearance of York chef Claudia Lawrence.
It comes as the detective leading the investigation into the disappearance of the university chef has thanked the public for "new information" as a search operation continues.
Officers are conducting detailed searches of an area around a popular fishing spot a few miles from the centre of York.
Detective Superintendent Wayne Fox, who is leading the investigation, and his senior investigating team are not at the search site today.
North Yorkshire Police say they are managing enquiries in relation to a number of emerging lines of investigation.
However, Detective Superintendent Fox said:
On Tuesday, detectives confirmed that an operation had begun to search the gravel pits – which are now believed to be used as fishing ponds – at Sand Hutton, to the east of York and around 6.5 miles from Ms Lawrence’s home on Heworth Road.
Police believe Ms Lawrence was murdered, although no body has ever been found.
Ms Lawrence was last seen on March 18 2009, and North Yorkshire Police has conducted two investigations and questioned nine people in relation to her disappearance and suspected murder, but no charges have ever been brought.
The timeline of the 12-year hunt for missing Claudia Lawrence
March 18 2009
March 18 2009
Ms Lawrence was last seen at around 3.05pm walking towards her home.
Ms Lawrence spoke to her mum, Joan, and dad, Peter, that evening over the telephone. They both said she was in good spirits.
March 19 2009
March 19 2009
Ms Lawrence fails to turn up to her 6am shift. In the evening, she also doesn't attend the Nags Head pub, where she had previously agreed to meet her friend.
April 24 2009
April 24 2009
Detectives say that Ms Lawrence’s disappearance is being treated as a suspected murder investigation. A £10,000 reward is offered for information that could lead to the conviction of those responsible.
May 13 2014
May 13 2014
A 59-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of murder. He is released on police bail and eventually released without charge six months later.
March 19 2014
March 19 2014
Five years on from Ms Lawrence’s disappearance, officers searching her home discover the fingerprints of people who have still not come forward to the investigation.
March 23 2015
March 23 2015
A man in his 50s is arrested on suspicion of murdering Ms Lawrence and released on police bail the following day.
April 22 2015
April 22 2015
Three more men, all in their 50s and from the York area, are arrested on suspicion of murder and are released on bail.
September 17 2015
September 17 2015
A file of evidence on four men arrested on suspicion of murder is sent by North Yorkshire Police to the Crown Prosecution service (CPS) so it can consider whether to bring charges. The CPS decides the men won't be charged.
January 17 2017
January 17 2017
Mr Lawrence says he is “hugely depressed and disappointed” as the investigation into his daughter’s disappearance is scaled down.
July 31 2019
July 31 2019
The Guardianship (Missing Persons) Bill, also known as Claudia’s Law, came into force. This followed years of campaigning by Mr Lawrence and allows relatives to take control of their missing loved ones’ financial matters.
August 24 2021
August 24 2021
A new search operation is announced at the gravel pits at Sand Hutton, about eight miles from York.
Claudia Lawrence's mother has said the latest searches in connection with her daughter’s disappearance and suspected murder have left her in “utter shock”.
Joan Lawrence told reporters she was "very, very churned up" about the latest developments in the investigation, which have seen police searching gravel pits and an area of woodland just outside York.
Mrs Lawrence said that "every single day is a nightmare" since her daughter disappeared from her home in Heworth, York, more than 12 years ago – but she insisted she still has hope.