Nicola Bulley police force blasted by watchdogs just months before she vanished
The police force criticised over the search for Nicola Bulley was blasted by watchdogs three months before she went missing.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary concluded that Lancashire Constabulary "requires improvement" when it comes to investigating crime.
Inspectors suggested that the force was not always carrying out thorough and timely investigations and that victims aren’t always updated on progress.
Writing his summary, HM Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr said: "The constabulary needs to continue improving the quality of its investigations and its recording of communication with victims."
He added that it "needs to review the role and responsibilities of its response officers" and make sure it has the resources "to meet the demands placed upon it."
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The news comes after calls for an independent review into Lancashire Police's handling of the Nicola Bulley case.
Nicola with her partner Paul Ansell and children at Centre Parcs in DecemberThe mum-of-two went missing on January 27 while walking her dog by the Rivery Wyre, having dropped off her daughters, aged six and nine, at school.
Tragically, Ms Bulley's body was recovered from the water last Sunday, less than a mile from where she was last seen, following a tip-off from two walkers.
The 45-year-old was not found for 23 days and health problems were revealed.
Lancashire Police now faces three external inquiries over the hunt and was criticised for disclosing personal information about Ms Bulley.
The area on the River Wyre where a body was recovered on February 19 (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)The Independent Office for Police Conduct is probing one officer's welfare visit to the family home two weeks prior.
While the College of Policing training and policy body will look at both the search and the decision to release information about an alcohol issue triggered by the menopause.
Former detective Martyn Underhill, who investigated dozens of murders including the Sarah Payne case in 2000, said “nothing less" than an independent review is needed into how the investigation was conducted.
DCS Pauline Stables and ACC Peter Lawson speaking after the recovery of a body from the River Wyre (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)“These are crucial issues that go to public confidence," Mr Underhill, who now lectures on investigation techniques, told The Times.
"I may well be totally wrong and Lancashire might be completely vindicated.
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"But I have never known a force to be so reluctant to seek external help — the Met and other forces all offered. The home secretary must get to the bottom of it."
Lancashire Police failed to be ranked "outstanding" in any of the eight areas it was assessed by the annual HMIC inspection.
Peter Faulding asserted he would find Ms Bulley if she was in the river
Ms Bulley's younger sister previously pleaded for her to come home (Facebook)It was marked as "adequate" for responding to the public and "requires improvement" for investigating crime.
Speaking at the time, the force said: “We are graded as ‘good’ in six areas, and where any areas for improvement were identified work is already under way to address these.”
Separately in the investigation, a specialist diver involved in the search for Ms Bulley has been reportedly been removed from the National Crime Agency's list of experts.
A memorial was held for the mum-of-two on Thursday (Phil Harris)Peter Faulding asserted he would find Ms Bulley if she was in the River Wyre, where she was last seen walking her dog.
His Specialist Group International (SGI) asserted that she 'was not in that section of the river' three days later.
But her body was found in the water last weekend following a tip off from walkers.
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