These ‘dreadful lies’ over missing chef Claudia Lawrence

Peter Lawrence spoke as police in York began a detailed search of an alleyway at the back of Miss Lawrence’s terraced home.

At the scene this morning, Det Supt Dai Malyn, who is leading the inquiry, said he is sure people have lied to his detectives and stressed that he still did not know what happened to the university kitchen worker.

Mr Lawrence said: “I heard that and it’s obviously absolutely dreadful that anyone would do that.

“We know that people lie to the police but in a case like this that involves Claudia’s disappearance and everyone can see what it’s done to the the family ... come on.”

Miss Lawrence was 35 when she went missing in 2009 and her family are preparing to mark what would have been her 41st birthday later this week. Police believe she has been murdered.

She was last seen on Wednesday March 18 2009 and was reported missing by her father on Friday March 20 after concerns were raised when she failed to turn up for her 6am shift at York University.

North Yorkshire Police began reviewing the case in 2013 and have since carried out a number of searches, including a detailed re-examination of Miss Lawrence’s house in the Heworth area of the city.

Today, the alley behind the house was cordoned off and specialist officers could be seen on their knees, conducting a fingertip search. An officer with a dog was also involved in the operation.

Mr Malyn, who is head of the force’s major crime unit, said: “The review remains very active and the team are currently working on a lead that may indicate the alleyway at the rear of Claudia’s house is significant.

“We still don’t know if Claudia left for work on the morning of Thursday March 19 2009 or whether something happened overnight within her house. If the latter is the case, the person or persons responsible, in my view, would have used the rear alleyway as the front door leads on to a busy main road. This is why this specific piece of information needs to be fully investigated.

“The activity today focuses on the alleyway with search-trained officers and a dog. Officers will be conducting house-to-house inquiries in the vicinity to jog people’s memories about any vehicular access to the alleyway and how frequently this was used by neighbours or other pedestrians.

“This includes contacting people who have since moved away from the area to assist the investigation. We are also checking again that no CCTV recording equipment in the neighbourhood has been overlooked.”

Following the start of the review in 2013, 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.

Mr Malyn added: “This is a very poignant week for Claudia’s family and friends as they should be celebrating her 41st birthday on Friday, rather than marking another upsetting milestone since she disappeared almost six years ago.

“Our thoughts are with her loved ones at this difficult time and as we approach the sixth anniversary of the investigation next month.

Speaking at his house in York, Mr Lawrence said: “The police told me that they were going to be down there because they thought there was significance in the alleyway at the rear of the house - basically that’s all I know.

“It’s a criminal investigation and they need to be careful about what they say.

“I think it’s just positive that they are looking, They’ve got a team out and they’re still active and it keeps it in the public eye.”

Mr Lawrence said: “We all know that somebody out there does know what happened to Claudia.”

He said: “Somebody clearly does know what happened and maybe from a misguided sense of loyalty they’ve kept quiet. Hopefully this very thorough investigation, and keeping it in the public, will make them change their mind.”

Mr Lawrence said: “Friday is Claudia’s 41st birthday, so that’s the sixth birthday that we’ve had to do without her company and her jollity. It’s a long time.

“It’s difficult all the time but when there’s a birthday, when you get the anniversaries and at Christmas it’s just worse. Claudia ought to be with us. How might she have changed in six years? What have we missed in all that time?”

The disappearance of Claudia Lawrence has been one of the most high-profile and perplexing missing person cases of recent years.

Miss Lawrence, who worked in a kitchen at York University, was last seen at about 3pm on March 18, 2009, as she made her way home from her shift and reported missing by her father two days later.

An extensive police investigation and repeated public appeals followed, but detectives appeared no closer to discovering what had happened to her until last year.

Then hopes of a breakthrough were raised when a 60-year-old man was arrested in May of last year – two months after a renewed appeal on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme had given the case fresh impetus.

Officers carried out searches of a home in the Burnholme area of York and another in the North East.

However, the arrested man was released from his bail without charge in November.

The only other person arrested in connection with the case, a 46-year-old who was questioned on suspicion of perverting the course of justice last July, is still on bail.