Nicola Bulley police 'committed major failings and used wrong strategy' - ex-cop

16 February 2023 , 20:51

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Nicola Bulley went missing on January 27 (Image: Lancashire Constabulary / SWNS.C)

The police force investigating the disappearance of Nicola Bulley is guilty of "major failings", according to an independent criminal investigator.

Detective-turned-journalist Mark Williams-Thomas has slammed Lancashire Police's media strategy as "totally wrong" in the case of the missing mum.

Speaking at the search site today, he said the "family are now in turmoil" after it was revealed the 45-year-old mum was struggling with alcohol issues brought on by the menopause.

Nicola vanished while on a dog walk in St Michael's on Wyre almost three weeks ago on January 27.

As yet, the force says it has not found any substantial evidence to point to what happened to her - though say their main theory is she drowned in the River Wyre.

Nicola Bulley's children 'cried their eyes out' after being told 'mummy's lost'

Mark Williams-Thomas said Nicola's family is in a 'terrible place' (SWNS)

At a press conference yesterday, the senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith and Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson revealed Nicola had "vulnerabilities" and was classed as High Risk.

And while they refused to elaborate at the time, the constabulary then released a statement hours later disclosing that the mum's struggles with alcohol due to the menopause had recently resurfaced.

It also added that officers had been called to her home address in Inskip 17 days before she disappeared following reports of concerns for her welfare.

Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson and Get. Supt. Rebecca Smith (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)

Today, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed the force had referred itself to the watchdog over its contact with Nicola on January 10 - before she went missing.

Mr Williams-Thomas told the MailOnline he had spoken to the force's press department and they have "acknowledged they've made major failings".

Referring to the briefing, he said: "How did they think that they could release a piece of information like that and journalists and investigators weren't going to say, what are you talking about?

Nicola has been missing for almost three weeks (PA)

"When I spoke to the police early yesterday before lunch and I said to them: 'Listen, I have information that something has gone on in the family... there have been emergency services called at the address, what are you going to do about it? Can you please confirm if that's true or not?'"

He believes, as a result, the information about Nicola's private issues were released when it was.

"What they should have done is done it on day one - get rid of all the speculation, dealt with it, and have had a very clear strategy," he continued.

He said: "What's really important to remember is that Nicola is still missing. What we need to do is find her."

Mum appeared 'completely normal' moments before vanishing while walking dog

Ryan Merrifield