Norfolk Police reveal challenges as the search for Gaynor Lord continues
Underwater searches have been continuing today in Wensum Park in Norwich as the search for missing Gaynor Lord enters its seventh day.
Last updated 14th Dec 2023
Underwater searches have been continuing today in Wensum Park in Norwich as the search for missing Gaynor Lord enters its seventh day.
Officers have also released CCTV footage of 55-year-old Gaynor walking along St Augustine’s Street, the last sighting of her on CCTV before she goes missing.
Yesterday, officers released footage showing her movements in the city centre after she left work at Jarrold department store at 2.45pm, more than an hour before her shift was due to finish.
In response to appeals for information about her movements, the force has received 30 calls from members of the public offering information, which officers are working through.
The footage shows her walking along London Street, Queens Street and towards the cathedral, before heading back out walking on to St George’s Street, St Crispins Road towards Pitt Street and finally up St Augustines Street.
The mother-of-three went missing on Friday after her possessions were found in Wensum Park just after 8pm. She was identified by ID found in her handbag at the scene.
The park has been closed off since Saturday and since then extensive enquiries have been carried out by specialist Licensed Search Officers, who are experts. This work is overseen by a Police Search Advisor, a specialist role who plans and controls search teams.
Water based searches have been carried out since Friday involving the Constabulary’s Marine Unit, Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, Coastguard and NorLSAR. These searches have been both surface and underwater. We’ve also been liaising with the National Crime Agency (NCA) around specialist underwater capability.
Chief Superintendent Dave Buckley, County Policing Commander, explained the challenging environment search teams are working in. He said: “We have been speaking to the dive team on site and visibility in the River Wensum is between zero and one foot underwater with temperatures as low as 4 degrees C.
“As soon as you reach one foot in front of you, visibility goes and then there’s obviously leaves, branches, debris, and the flow of the river to contend with, which is the biggest problem because there’s been so much rainfall.
“They’re swimming against the flow of the river, which is very difficult, and searching with next to zero visibility, and in a systematic manner. It’s very time consuming because it’s a large area to search and we must make sure we covered every feasible inch of water.”
Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service have been assisting the search and yesterday expanded the water search capabilities by calling on colleagues from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service to assist with a specialist under water drone. This drone has been used today to help with the search. The underwater search involves a combination of technology, diving, and drones.
Three types of sonar, a technique that uses sound to detect objects, have been used from a boat in the River Wensum. If an object is identified as requiring further investigation a dive team will be deployed and areas prioritised.
The irregular and largely natural nature of the terrain with uneven banks, trees, various depths and obstructions makes this work painstaking and difficult.
The images being beamed back to the boat were often unclear and difficult to recognise depending on the angle.
Ch Supt Buckley added: “Our approach has been to conduct thorough and systematic searches of the area. This resulted in further items belonging to Gaynor being found over the weekend, her mobile phone, coat, ring, and glasses.
“We’ve received 15 calls so far in response to our appeal yesterday and we’re grateful for the public’s help. While this information is still being assessed, currently there is nothing of significance that changes our approach.
“This remains a missing person investigation and every effort continues to find Gaynor, including tracing her final movements in the city centre.”