POLICE have defended their inquiry into the suspected murder of Claudia Lawrence after the missing York chef’s father questioned why detectives had not acted more quickly to investigate his daughter’s link to Cyprus.

The 35-year-old was a frequent visitor to the Mediterranean island and befriended a number of men there, including one who was in England on the day Claudia disappeared.

A team of four officers was sent to Cyprus last week to speak to these men, but Claudia’s solicitor father, Peter Lawrence, has questioned why police waited six months before visiting the island.

“There is quite a connection to the island,” he said. “Claudia had been on holiday there several times and had made friends with people she had met there.

“It might not have been a bad idea if police had visited Cyprus sooner. It is valuable to get the information face to face.”

Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway, who is leading the investigation, said: “Enquiries have been conducted with people who knew or were in contact with Claudia since the earliest stages of the investigation, but the primary focus of the investigation has always been in York.

“Only as further investigation revealed the extent of Claudia’s contacts on the island did it become apparent that it would be necessary to send a team across there.

“It is not possible to send officers to pursue enquiries in a foreign territory without the necessary authority being obtained first and, to this end, the due process must be adhered to.

“The enquiries being made on Cyprus relate to witnesses, not suspects, and, with the full co-operation of the Cypriot authorities, real progress has been made in developing our understanding of Claudia’s contacts on the island.”

Meanwhile, Claudia’s best friend, Suzy Cooper, 45, has spoken out in support of their mutual friend, Steve Sammons, who has been catapulted into the spotlight after it was revealed he sent the final text to be received by Claudia’s phone, at 9.12pm on March 18.

Steve, 35, who met Suzy and Claudia in the Nag’s Head pub, in Heworth, moved to Cyprus last year, where he does casual work in restaurants and as a labourer.

“It has been quite a shock for him,” said Suzy, an office administrator from Tang Hall, who has just returned from a holiday in Cyprus, where she stayed with Steve.

“Steve was the last person to send Claudia a text and for some reason, this has been seen in a sinister way.

“He was spoken to by police right at the beginning by telephone. He is one of Claudia’s closest friends and there is absolutely no way that he was involved in her disappearance whatsoever.”

Suzy said: “I’ve still got hope that Claudia’s going to be found. To the person who has taken her, I would say again, just let her go now, and to Claudia, please don’t give up hope. We are still going to keep on trying to find you and we will not give up.”