Claudia Lawrence: Three men arrested on suspicion of murder

They are aged in their 50s and from the York area.

Searches are being conducted which are expected to be ongoing over a number of days.

No further details relating to the arrests will be provided at this stage of the investigation.

This follows the arrest of a local man aged in his 50s on March 23.

He remains on police bail while enquiries continue.

The investigation team would like to stress that Claudia has not been found.

Claudia’s family have been notified about the arrests and are being supported by trained officers.

Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn, head of North Yorkshire Police’s Major Crime Unit and the senior investigating officer in the Claudia Lawrence inquiry, said:

“As with the previous arrest last month, I strongly advise the media and members of the public against identifying the men who have been arrested.

“This is to ensure the investigation and legal process are not compromised or potentially damaged in any way. This includes naming or publishing images of the men, their home addresses, places of work, their vehicles and properties being searched on traditional media platforms or social networking sites.

“I urge everyone to again show restraint and patience while we carry out these very important enquiries. Your co-operation and support is greatly appreciated by the investigation team.”

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 1, and pass details to the Force Control Room. Please quote “Claudia Lawrence” when passing on details.

Alternatively, if you have any information about the Claudia Lawrence case, you can contact the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through their Anonymous Online Form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

For further information on the Claudia Lawrence investigation, please go to the dedicated microsite on the North Yorkshire Police website www.northyorkshire.police.uk/claudialawrence