NORTH Yorkshire Police’s head of crime has pledged never to close the case into the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence until it is resolved ahead of the launch of a major new investigation unit.

This week marked 40,000 hours since the York chef went missing, and her father, Peter Lawrence, met with the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire, Dave Jones, and Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Mason, head of crime, to discuss a review by the new Major Crimes Unit into the disappearance.

Claudia, who was 35 when she disappeared, has not been seen since she failed to turn up for a shift at the University of York in March 2009. Friends and family have campaigned since then to find out what happened to her.

Mr Lawrence said: “I got the impression from the chief constable and Mr Mason that they really are dedicated now as are the new team to finding out what happened to Claudia. There’s bound to be a different approach from different people. I know they are dedicated to doing whatever they can to find Claudia, they told me so, and I accept that. It’s always good to have new people looking at anything, and this is a dedicated unit and they have support from similar units in West Yorkshire and the Met.”

A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman confirmed Mr Jones had previously met Claudia’s mother, Joan, and the investigation would be one of several cases to be reviewed by the new unit, which launches next week and is headed by Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn. Det Chief Supt Mason said: “Both Detective Superintendent Malyn and I will be assessing the evidential and intelligence material gathered during the Claudia Lawrence investigation to satisfy ourselves that all lines of inquiry have been exhausted or whether new lines of inquiry can be progressed.

“As a parent, I can only imagine the anguish that her parents have been going through since her uncharacteristic disappearance in 2009. I hope Claudia’s family and friends will take some comfort from knowing that North Yorkshire Police will never close this case until a definitive conclusion has been reached for them, and we know conclusively what has happened to Claudia.”