17 years since Claudia Lawrence’s disappearance

It is now 17 years since the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence in York.

Claudia was last seen and heard from on 18 March 2009. She was reported missing on 20 March, and five weeks later, North Yorkshire Police announced that the case was being treated as a suspected murder.

Over the years that have followed, our commitment to uncover the truth of what happened has not diminished.

Reflecting on the anniversary of Claudia’s disappearance, Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Jon Sygrove said: “It is difficult to comprehend the long ordeal that Claudia's family have faced, and my thoughts are with them. But despite the passage of time, we are still as determined as ever to achieve justice for Claudia.

“I believe the answers that Claudia’s loved-ones deserve will come from the individuals who know, or think they know, what happened to her. They have carried this knowledge for 17 years, and witnessed the profound pain experienced by Claudia’s family. Today I urge them: come forward and speak to us now. It is never too late to do the right thing.”

Although the investigation has been in a reactive phase since 2017, every single new piece of information we receive is checked and evaluated against the substantial volume of evidence already gathered throughout our enquiries. If new information emerges that leads to a meaningful line of enquiry, we will pursue it decisively.