Police sift through responses to weekend Claudia Lawrence operation (From York Press)

Police sift through responses to weekend Claudia Lawrence operation

10:00am Monday 6th April 2009 in Claudia Lawrence By Mark Stead, mark.stead@thepress.co.uk

The electronic screen showing photos of Claudia Lawrence

DETECTIVES leading the hunt for missing York chef Claudia Lawrence were today sifting through the weekend response to a city-wide operation aimed at keeping the case in the public eye.

A media van equipped with a giant electronic screen showing photos of the 35-year-old – who vanished almost three weeks ago – roved around the city in an attempt to jog people’s memories and unearth vital clues.

As well as driving around the area close to the University of York – where Claudia worked and was last seen as she left the campus on Wednesday, March 18 – the vehicle toured a string of locations to maintain the investigation’s profile as weekend shoppers, tourists and revellers flocked to the centre of York.

Police were yesterday unable to confirm the depth of response to the media van appeal or whether it had produced any crucial fresh leads, but said the intention of the operation – which may be repeated once its success is evaluated – was to reach as many people as possible.

The vehicle also carried pictures of Claudia’s missing silver Samsung D900 mobile phone and Karrimor rucksack which she used to carry her chef’s whites to work, while hundreds of people received multi-media messages via Bluetooth mobile phone technology urging them to come forward with information about where she might be.

Among the areas visited by the van were Heworth Road – close to Claudia’s home – Melrosegate, Green Dykes Lane, University Road, Micklegate and Fishergate, while it has also set up base in Coney Street and Rougier Street on each of the last three evenings.

“The media van has been out and about in different areas to those which have been searched by police during this investigation,” said a North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman.

“Through this, we are hoping to receive the help of people who may only come to these areas at the weekend and may be able to provide some small amount of information which can help find Claudia. We will now assess how this has worked and whether to do this again.”

Claudia – described by police as “a prolific texter” – has not been in contact with her friends or family since sending a text message to a friend at 8.23pm on March 18.

When she vanished, she did not have her purse, bank cards, passport or spare clothes.

More than 220 properties have so far been searched during the investigation and police have taken more than 460 statements from Claudia’s friends, family, ex-boyfriends, acquaintances and members of the public. Anybody who can help the enquiry should phone North Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060 247 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Meanwhile, the force has confirmed it has made no arrests in connection with a bogus website which appealed for cash to help the hunt for Claudia, following weekend newspaper reports that a London businessman was being investigated over the now-defunct site.

“We have neither arrested nor named anybody in connection with this and inquiries are continuing,” said the spokeswoman.