North Yorkshire Police have called on anyone with information on Claudia Lawrence’s disappearance to 'do the right thing and make a report.'

The force made this appeal on Monday (March 18) – a day which marks 15 years since the York chef’s disappearance which has left her family and friends in “unending uncertainty.”

Detectives suspect Claudia, who would have been 50 today, was murdered - but neither her body, nor any indication of her being alive, have ever been found.

Wayne Fox, NYP’s senior Investigating officer, said he could not imagine the pain Claudia’s family and friends have experienced over this period, and renewed calls to help NYP’s enquiries into her disappearance.

He said: "Speaking purely as a parent, my thoughts as we enter the 15th year since Claudia Lawrence was reported missing, remain with her mum Joan. I cannot begin to understand the pain that Joan and her family feel every single day.

"For such pain and despair to continue for 15 years without knowing where your child is, or what happened to them, well that is far beyond what any mum or dad should ever have to live with.

"This year, the anniversary of Claudia’s disappearance is even more poignant as she would have celebrated her 50th birthday on 27 February.

"That she has been denied the opportunity of fulfilling her potential and living life in a way that made her happy, be that in career aspiration, travelling the world or the possibility of raising children, is tragic in the extreme. “

 

Claudia’s father, Peter, tragically passed away three years ago without knowing what had happened to his daughter.

 

 

"Let us not forget that Claudia’s family and closest friends have also been denied the opportunity of living and sharing these types of momentous moments with her. That is equally sad and can surely only magnify the pain that they continue to feel 15 years on,” he added.

"However, the single barrier to unlocking the answers for Claudia’s loved-ones and bringing those responsible for her disappearance to justice, remains the same – silence.

"Silence from the people who know, or may suspect, what happened to Claudia but have, so far, for reasons that are only known to them, been unable to come forward to the police or even pass on information to Crimestoppers anonymously.

"There may be many reasons as to why they have been unable to come forward, however, my plea to them on reaching 15 years of living with the knowledge you have is to do the right thing and make a report.

"You can help bring an end to the pain and uncertainty for Claudia, her mum and all who love her.”

 

He stressed NYP’s inquiry, which has been in a ‘reactive phase’ since 2017 has not closed, and urged people to come forward with any new information they may have.

 

"Every new piece of information is carefully assessed against the significant volumes of material that has been gathered over the full course of the investigation,” he added

"If a specific line of enquiry is developed from receipt of new information, and grows in significance, we will take decisive action, as we did when extensively searching the gravel pits at Sand Hutton in August 2021.

"I hope the scale of activity which took place within that operation clearly demonstrates that, if information is capable of being effectively developed, North Yorkshire Police will work tirelessly in our continued search for the truth.

"If you know something that could help us find Claudia, or those involved in her disappearance and suspected murder, I urge you to come forward now."

Anyone with information that could assist NYP’s investigation should make a report via the North Yorkshire Police website or by calling 101, select option 4, and pass details to the Force Control Room.

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Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through their Anonymous Online Form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded, and you will not go to court. Please quote “Claudia Lawrence” when providing details.

The appeal for information is also available on the Major Incident Public Portal here.