Claudia Lawrence: police finish searching property linked to suspect
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Version 0 of 1. Police questioning a man on suspicion of murdering missing chef Claudia Lawrence say they have finished searching a property linked to his arrest. North Yorkshire police arrested the suspect on Monday in connection with Lawrence’s disappearance in 2009. He remains in custody. A spokesman said searches at a linked property were completed on Monday night. Police could be seen on Monday searching a semi-detached house in a quiet cul-de-sac in York. The spokesman said that Lawrence, who was 35 when she went missing, had not been found. Her family have been told about the arrest and are being supported by trained officers. DS Dai Malyn, of North Yorkshire police, urged people not to identify the arrested man, who is from the York area. He said: “To ensure the investigation and legal process are not compromised or potentially damaged in any way during this critical phase in seeking the truth about Claudia’s disappearance, North Yorkshire police strongly advises the media and members of the public against identifying the man who has been arrested. “This includes naming or publishing images of the man on traditional media platforms or social networking sites. “I urge everyone to show restraint and patience while we carry out these very important inquiries.” Lawrence was reported missing by her father after concerns were raised when she failed to turn up for her 6am shift at work. North Yorkshire police began reviewing the case in 2013 and have since carried out a number of searches, including a detailed re-examination of Lawrence’s home, in the Heworth area of the city, and a fingertip search of an alleyway that leads to the rear of the house. A 60-year-old man was arrested last year in connection with her disappearance and suspected murder but was later released without charge, while a 47-year-old man remains on bail on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. Malyn said he was “actively pursuing new leads” and that his team had made significant progress since the force began reviewing the case. The detective said some people locally knew Lawrence but have kept their relationship secret and some deliberately lied about a number of issues concerning their association with the chef. Last week, on the sixth anniversary of her disappearance, police released previously unseen CCTV footage of two people seen walking near her home on the evening she went missing. Lawrence’s father, Peter, said: “It is encouraging to know that, following all the media activity over the last three weeks, from Claudia’s 41st birthday to the sixth anniversary of her being missing, North Yorkshire police continue to be active in seeking answers as to what has happened to Claudia. “It is to be hoped that the matter can be resolved as soon as possible and I encourage people to continue to come forward with information to the police.” |