Police announce new searches in nine year hunt for missing Bristol woman
The disappearance of Claire Holland in 2012 is considered suspicious
Last updated 16th Nov 2021
Avon and Somerset Police are starting several days of searches in Bristol linked to the disappearance of a woman back in 2012.
Claire Holland from Lawrence Weston who was 32 at the time, was reported missing by her family on Thursday 14 June 2012.
She was last seen at the Seamus O’Donnell’s pub in St Nicholas Street, Bristol, on the evening of Wednesday 6th June.
Today, officers have released CCTV footage of Claire on the day she disappeared and say they will be carrying out several "intelligence-led searches" across the city centre, in what marks a major development in the case.
WATCH: CCTV clips of Claire on the day she went missing:
The police say they believe Claire was the victim of a crime and her disappearance is being treated as suspicious.
A 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder in 2019 and to this day, remains released under investigation.
Senior Investigating Officer Det Insp Darren Hannant said: “We’d like the public to cast their mind back to The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend, which was on the weekend of 2-5 June in 2012.
"Claire went missing the day after this significant national event.
“CCTV shows Claire walking along Baldwin Street heading towards the Seamus O’Donnell’s pub at around 9.30pm on Wednesday 6 June, but we don’t have any footage showing where she went afterwards, but staff have confirmed she did leave the pub later that evening just after closing time, around 11.15pm.
"It is possible she headed in the direction of the Fountains, near the Harbourside, but we don’t have any footage of her doing so, despite extensive reviews of more than 1,000 hours of available CCTV."
WATCH: Our special video report on Claire's disappearance
We're told some of the searches starting today will involve a specialist dive team and will initially start in the city centre, but will move to other areas throughout the rest of the week.
“At this time, we’re treating Claire’s disappearance as suspicious," Det Insp Hannant said.
"Claire had no known reason to go missing of her own accord and had made plans for the week following her disappearance.
“Claire’s family are being kept up to date on the progress of this investigation and we’re committed to providing them with the answers they need.
"Specially trained liaison officers will continue to support them at this very difficult time.”
The police want to speak to anyone who has information relating to any of the following points:
- Were you in the Seamus O’Donnell’s pub on the night Claire was last seen – Wednesday 6 June, 2012?
- Watch the CCTV clips - did you see a woman matching Claire’s description heading into Bristol city centre from the direction of St Nicholas Street after 11pm? Did you see her anywhere else in Bristol that same evening?
- Were you a friend or acquaintance of Claire? If you didn’t speak to police at the time she went missing, or since, now is the time.
- Has someone told you information about this case which may have sounded unusual or suspicious? Has anyone confided in you about what may have happened to Claire? Now is the time to put aside any doubts you have had about making contact and help us find answers for the sake of Claire’s family and loved ones.
If you were a friend of Claire on Facebook in 2012 the police will be sending you a message via social media.
They say they would appreciate if those people could take the time to read the message and call them with any useful information.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 101 and quote the reference number 5219172645.
Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website www.crimestoppers-uk.org – they never ask for your name or trace your call.