DETECTIVES are reviewing their investigation into the disappearance of a man in York.

Rory Johnson-Hatfield disappeared on a night out in York in November 2015, and North Yorkshire Police said they believed he had gone into the Ouse.

 

York Press:

Underwater searches, sonar searches and specially trained dogs took place at the time, but no trace of him was found and the force said it had done all it could despite the protests of Rory’s family.

However, fresh searches began this week on a section of the Ouse, and will continue next week, despite police saying no fresh evidence had been found.

Doug, Rory’s father, said police have agreed to review the original investigation and carry out fresh underwater searches between Naburn Lock and Selby, but there was no evidence to prove he was in the river.

He said: “Of course we want to believe he’s somewhere else. I’m not stupid, it’s the only hope we have. I don’t believe he’s in the river, but police maintain that so our case is if you believe that why aren’t you searching it?

“It was because of us never letting it go, really. We’ve been pestering them and pestering them and we have had some problems along the way with police and don’t think the job’s been done properly so a new chap has been brought in to do a review. We’re really happy.”

The new sonar searches will run between Naburn Lock and Selby - an area only previously searched by eye and with dogs, unlike the areas closer to the city centre, which had previously been searched using sonar.

Doug said: “It was one of those things that felt like it was put off and put off until it was too late but they are on it now and using sonar all the way down to Selby. The river is still the main focus for the police until such time they find something that warrants investigation somewhere else. We’re 18 months down the road. It’s better late than never, but it’s my son that’s involved here, this should have been done in the early days.”

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Phil Cain said the review had been agreed following recent changes to command in York, which allowed “the opportunity to have a fresh pair of eyes conduct a review of Rory’s disappearance”.

He said: “At the request of Rory’s mother I recently met with members of the family to discuss the current ongoing missing person investigation in to Rory’s disappearance.

“The review will report in to the York Commander and myself as Local Policing lead. North Yorkshire Police will continue to support and maintain contact with members of Rory’s family throughout. As part of the review, all lines of enquiry will be assessed to ensure we continue to seek to understand what has happened to Rory.”

Anyone who saw Rory or has information which could help police should phone 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111 quoting incident number 12150207141.