Three individuals have been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the long-standing case of Robert Scott Clive, who disappeared 23 years ago. Mr Clive was last seen around 11 pm on 10 October 2002, in the Coronation Street area of North Shields, North Tyneside. His family reported him missing shortly thereafter, expressing their concerns for his wellbeing.

In the early hours of the following day, unconfirmed sightings indicated a man resembling Mr Clive near the banks of the River Tyne. Born in Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, the then 30-year-old man’s disappearance triggered an immediate murder investigation; however, his body has never been recovered.

Recent developments in the case have led Northumbria Police to take action after receiving what they described as ‘new information’. Two men, aged in their 40s and 50s, alongside a woman in her 40s, have been arrested. The police are actively searching a property on Coronation Street where Mr Clive was known to have visited on the night of his disappearance. The current occupant of the property, who moved in after 2002, has been temporarily relocated to alternative accommodation while the investigation continues.

As part of the ongoing inquiry, officers have been conducting door-to-door investigations in the area. In June 2024, a 49-year-old man was previously arrested concerning the case but has since been released on bail as the investigations proceed.

The police have reviewed extensive CCTV footage and have interviewed numerous witnesses as they attempt to piece together Mr Clive’s last known movements.

Det Insp Mark Atherton, involved in the investigation, emphasised the importance of community engagement, stating, “We are doing everything we can to provide Scott’s family with the answers they deserve.” He urged anyone who lived on Coronation Street during the time of the incident or anyone with information about Mr Clive’s movements that night to come forward, asserting that such information could be crucial to the investigation.

The plight of Robert Clive’s family has been poignant, particularly highlighted by the words of his mother, Patricia Clive. In a past interview, she reflected on the impact of Scott’s absence and the comparisons with her eldest grandson, who has now reached the same age as Scott was when he went missing. She noted: “We can’t help but make comparisons, he is living his life to the full and has everything we wished for Scott. We can’t bear this torment any longer – almost 22 years of us missing him and not knowing what happened; we need to lay it and Scott to rest.”

As inquiries continue, the search for the truth surrounding Robert Scott Clive’s disappearance remains a focal point for both law enforcement and the grieving family.

Source: Noah Wire Services