Julia Mulligan comments on today’s announcement – Claudia Lawrence investigation
Commenting on today’s (17 January 2017) announcement, relating to the Claudia Lawrence investigation, Julia Mulligan, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire said:
“This is of course an extremely difficult time for Claudia’s family. The proactive part of the police investigation is it an end, but I know detectives will continue to act on and follow any evidence which comes to light hereafter, and I make another plea for those involved in Claudia’s disappearance to come forward and end this family’s nightmare.
“A great deal of time, money and effort has gone into investigating Claudia’s disappearance and I will be encouraging North Yorkshire Police to learn from that experience, and bring that knowledge to bear on future cases. Merging North Yorkshire’s major investigation team with Cleveland’s is already a step in the right direction. That new team now offers additional resilience, skills and experience, and we are in better shape than ever to respond to major crimes.
“I am also comfortable Operation Essence was the right thing to do. In 2013, four years after Claudia went missing, both the Chief Constable and I were new to our posts, had just implemented a new Major Crime Unit with a dedicated cold case team and were aware of the new technology at hand which hadn’t previously been available. Those reasons, coupled with the knowledge that the Lawrence family still had many unanswered questions, mean it was right to fully review Claudia’s disappearance.
“It is enormously sad that Claudia has not been found despite the years of hard work and dedication. No stone has been left unturned, and every scrap of evidence has been interrogated.
“First and foremost though, my thoughts are with the Lawrence family at this very difficult time. I know North Yorkshire Police continue to offer their support and their services should they be needed.”
Claudia Lawrence
