Nicola Bulley: Live updates search expert makes U-turn over ...
Video Loading
Video Unavailable
Nicola Bulley suffered with “some significant issues with alcohol” in the past which had resurfaced over recent months, police have now said.
On Wednesday evening, a statement on the Lancashire Police website said: “We have described how Nicola had some vulnerabilities at the time she went missing and we just wanted to expand on that a little.
“Sadly, it is clear from speaking to Paul and the family that Nicola had in the past suffered with some significant issues with alcohol which were brought on by her ongoing struggles with the menopause and that these struggles had resurfaced over recent months.
“This caused some real challenges for Paul and the family."
It follows a a press conference on Wednesday morninig in which senior officers said Ms Bulley was “vulnerable” and classed by police as a “high-risk” missing person immediately after her partner Paul Ansell reported her disappearance.
A forensic search expert and diver who has been heavily involved in the search for missing mum Nicola Bulley has said he would have changed his search strategy if he'd been told about her "vulnerabilities".
Peter Faulding, who had been called in by Nicola's family to help with the search, said his methods would have been different had he known that Nicola had issues with alcohol related to her difficulties coping with the menopause. It comes after police today revealed that Nicola was being treated as a "high risk" missing person and then explained why.
Mr Faulding had previously questioned the theory that she had fallen in the river. However, he now concedes that Nicola "could have ended up in the sea" if she "had jumped in, intended to take her own life or walk off".
Nicola has not been seen since January 27 - she vanished while taking her springer spaniel Willow for a walk along the river in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire.
The 45-year-old's phone was left on the bench near the river, still connected to a work call, with the dog lead and harness found close by.
The force said her disappearance was not being treated as suspicious. No trace of her has been found however and detectives extended the search for her to the sea on February 3.
We will bring you live updates on the search for Nicola Bulley below:
15:29Zac Sherratt
Home Office minister Robert Jenrick said he hopes police can get NicolaBulley’s family answers “as quickly as possible”.
Speaking to broadcasters, Mr Jenrick said: “These are unusual comments but we’re not privy to the police’s conversations with NicolaBulley’s family and I don’t think it would be right for us to speculate on why they’ve chosen to make those comments.
“This is a live investigation, we have to let the police get on with it and not add to the already considerable level of speculation surrounding the case.
“I hope the police can find a resolution to this case as quickly as possible so that we can bring answers to NicolaBulley’s family, which they clearly deserve.”
14:58Zac Sherratt
14:36Zac Sherratt
The family of missing mother Nicola Bulley have said they “believe that the public focus has become distracted from finding Nikki, and more about speculation and rumours into her private life”, in a statement issued through Lancashire Police.
14:27Zac Sherratt
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has said they have made contact with Lancashire Police over information made public in a press conference about missing mother NicolaBulley’s private life.
In a statement, a spokesman for the IOPC said: “Following information that was made public by Lancashire Constabulary yesterday, we have made contact with the force to determine if a referral to the IOPC may be required.”
14:11Zac Sherratt
In a statement released through Lancashire Police, Nicola Bulley’s family said: “It has now been three weeks since Nikki went missing. We, as a family, believe that the public focus has become distracted from finding Nikki, and more about speculation and rumours into her and Paul’s private life.
“As a family, we were aware beforehand that Lancashire Police, last night, released a statement with some personal details about our Nikki. Although we know that Nikki would not have wanted this, there are people out there speculating and threatening to sell stories about her. This is appalling and needs to stop. The police know the truth about Nikki and now the public need to focus on finding her.
“Due to the peri menopause Nikki suffered with significant side effects such as brain fog, restless sleep and was taking HRT to help but this was giving her intense headaches which caused Nikki to stop taking the HRT thinking that may have helped her but only ended up causing this crisis. The public focus has to be on finding her and not making up wild theories about her personal life.
“Despite what some media outlets and individuals are suggesting, we are being updated daily and receive support from our family liaison officers.
“Nikki is such a wonderful daughter, sister, partner and mother and is missed dearly – we all need you back in our lives.
“Nikki, we hope you are reading this and know that we love you so much and your girls want a cuddle. We all need you home. You can reach out to us, or you can contact MissingPeople.org.uk. Don’t be scared, we all love you so very much.”
13:00Zac Sherratt
11:02Zac Sherratt
Officers are on the banks of the River Wyre this morning, as the search for Nicola continues.
09:31Zac Sherratt
The River Wyre at sunset yesterday as officers from Lancashire Police continue their search, but face criticism for revealing Nicola's "vulnerabilities".
09:16Zac Sherratt
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said that the actions of Lancashire Police were “very unusual”, after the force disclosed that Nicola Bulley suffered “some significant issues with alcohol” in the past, which had resurfaced over recent months.
Senior officers said on Wednesday that Ms Bulley was “vulnerable” and classed by police as a “high-risk” missing person immediately after her partner reported her disappearance.
Ms Cooper refrained from criticising the police, but said she would speak to Lancashire Police in a bid to get answers about the decision.
She told Sky News: “I do have a lot of questions and concerns about that. I would want to speak directly to Lancashire Police about their reasons for doing so before commenting further, because I know there can be complicated reasons for police decisions.
“It’s very unusual and it does raise some quite significant concerns.”
03:58KEY EVENT
The independent forensic search and dive specialist brought in to hunt for missing mum Nicola Bulley has now explained exactly what he would have done differently if he had known about her health issues.
Peter Faulding, head of Specialist Group International (SGI), said his "usually trusted team and I were not passed this crucial information during our search, which would have changed search strategy" - despite being briefed each day. It comes after Lancashire Police said Nicola had "significant issues with alcohol which were brought on by her ongoing struggles with the menopause".
Mr Faulding criticised the decision to release the sensitive information publicly. However, he said he and his team should have been told about Nicola's problems, to improve his chances of finding her.
And he explained in detail what he would have done differently if he had known what police did.
READ MORE
22:37KEY EVENT
A forensic search expert and diver who has been heavily involved in the search for missing mum Nicola Bulley has said he would have changed his search strategy if been told about her "vulnerabilities".
Peter Faulding, who had been called in by Nicola's family to help with the search, said his methods would have been different had he known that Nicola had issues with alcohol related to her difficulties coping with the menopause. It comes after police today revealed that Nicola was being treated as a "high risk" missing person and then explained why.
Mr Faulding had previously questioned the theory that she had fallen in the river. However, he now concedes that Nicola "could have ended up in the sea" if she "if she had jumped in, intended to take her own life or walk off".
READ MORE
21:48Aaron Morris
Police searching for missing Nicola Bulley say that the mum of two called her boss, dialled into a Teams call for work, and arranged a playdate with a close friend before she vanished while walking her dog.
The 45-year-old went missing from St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, 19 days ago - after dropping her two youngsters, aged nine and six, off at school.
In a press briefing held today, Lancashire Constabulary detailed three conversations Nicola had on her mobile before she vanished.
You can read the full story, here.
21:27Aaron Morris
Police investigating the disappearance of Nicola Bulley have addressed a number of 'rumours' that have been circulating concerning the missing mum as the third week of the search continues.
Mum-of-two Nicola was last seen on the morning of Friday, January 27, where she vanished while out on a walk with her dog Willow after dropping her two daughters off at school.
Police have now scoured 'hundreds of hours' of CCTV and dashcam footage, as well as speaking to numerous witnesses and reviewing information sent in by the public in the hope of finding the missing mortgage advisor.
You can read the full story, here.
21:10Aaron Morris
Lancashire Police's website, continues: "Sadly, it is clear from speaking to Paul and the family that Nicola had in the past suffered with some significant issues with alcohol which were brought on by her ongoing struggles with the menopause and that these struggles had resurfaced over recent months. This caused some real challenges for Paul and the family.
“As a result of those issues, a response car staffed by both police and health professionals attended a report of concern for welfare at Nicola’s home address on January 10th. No one has been arrested in relation to this incident, but it is being investigated.
“It is an unusual step for us to take to go into this level of detail about someone’s private life, but we felt it was important to clarify what we meant when we talked about vulnerabilities to avoid any further speculation or misinterpretation.”
You can read the full story, here.
21:09Aaron Morris
Police investigating the disappearance of Nicola Bulley have revealed that the missing 45-year-old has 'recently resurfaced' health issues.
It comes after a press conference today, in which senior officers announced that the mum of two is a 'vulnerable' and 'high risk' missing person.
This evening, a statement on the Lancashire Police's website reads: “We have described how Nicola had some vulnerabilities at the time she went missing and we just wanted to expand on that a little.
14:51Zac Sherratt
Detectives have been “inundated with false information, accusations and rumours which is distracting” them from their work to find Nicola Bulley, who is a “high-risk” missing person with “specific vulnerabilities”, Lancashire Police Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith said.
13:46Zac Sherratt
Amateur sleuths and social media video-makers have “distracted significantly” from police efforts to find missing mother-of-two NicolaBulley, the lead investigator in the case has said.
At a press conference at Lancashire Police HQ on Wednesday, the BBC asked if “social media video makers and wannabe detectives have been an annoyance or a hindrance in the enquiry”.
Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith said: “Yes, it has significantly distracted the investigation.
“In 29 years’ police service I’ve never seen anything like it.
“Some of it’s been quite shocking and really hurtful to the family.
“Obviously, we can’t disregard anything and we’ve reviewed everything that’s come in but of course it has distracted us significantly.
“But as long as we are prioritising, which we do constantly on the information that’s coming in, that will not distract us from the priority actions that we’ve been completing.”
12:57Zac Sherratt
Police say a glove found near to where Nicola Bulley disappeared does not belong to her.
Speaking at a press conference at Lancashire Police headquarters on Wednesday, senior investigating officer Detective Supt Rebecca Smith said: “In terms of the glove that has been recovered, you’ll no doubt be aware that TikTokers have been playing their own private detectives and have been in the area.
“A glove has been recovered that is not believed to be relevant to the investigation, it is not Nicola’s but we have got that in our possession.”
12:39Zac Sherratt
Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith, the lead investigator in the Nicola Bulley case, refused to give more details of the mother-of-two’s “individual vulnerabilities”.
Referring to Ms Bulley’s partner Paul Ansell, she told a press conference: “It’s normal in any missing person investigation that you obviously gather as much information at an early stage about the person in question, which is no different and we did that with Paul.
“I’m not going to go into the details of those individual vulnerabilities. I’ve asked you to respect the family, who are going through unimaginable pain and distress at this moment.
“But those vulnerabilities based our decision-making in terms of grading Nicola as high risk and have continued to form part of my investigation throughout.”
Asked if she hoped to find her alive, Det Supt Smith said: “I hope with all my heart that we find Nicola Bulley alive more than anything.”
12:29Zac Sherratt
Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson (left) and Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith of Lancashire Police update the media in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, as police continue their search for Nicola Bulley.
12:20Zac Sherratt
"I hope with all my heart that we find Nicola Bulley alive, more than anything", says detective superintendent Rebecca Smith, who is leading the investigation.
Det Supt maintains that the main working hypothesis is that Nicola fell into the River Wyre.
11:55Zac Sherratt
No evidence to indicate criminal aspect or third party involved in Nicola's disapperance, police say.
11:52Zac Sherratt
Lancashire Police will shortly provide an update on the disappearance of Nicola Bulley.
10:44Zac Sherratt
09:40Zac Sherratt
Nicola Bulley's sister, Louise Cunnigham (right), with her mother and father-in-law walking past the yellow ribbons and messages of hope tied to a bridge over the River Wyre in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire.
09:18Sam Volpe
Yesterday, police seen searching a caravan site near where Nicola Bulley disappeared, as the search for the missing mum of two enters its third week.
Later this morning, police bosses will give an update on their investigation.
09:17Zac Sherratt
Charlotte Drake, the next-door neighbour and friend of Nicola Bulley, ties a yellow ribbon with a message of hope written on it, to a bridge over the River Wyre.
08:17Sam Volpe
08:15Sam Volpe
Lancashire Police are to hold a press conference and offer updates on the investigation into Nicola Bulley's disappearance. That will take place at 11.30am and will be led by Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson and Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith.
07:49Sam Volpe
Last night Mirror Online reported how detectives investigating the disappearance of Nicola Bulley have reportedly been handed a "stained" glove that was found near the place where the mum-of-two went missing nearly three weeks ago.
Major new claims have reportedly emerged that could cast further doubt on Lancashire Police's working theory that the mum fell into the water.
It is reported that, on February 7, two walkers found a blue glove in the field where Nicola went missing. They handed it to police who bagged it and took it away, it is claimed.
It is claimed that a video of the discovery, made yards from where Nicola was last seen and her mobile phone was found on a bench, was published on TikTok last week, but has since been deleted.
The person who shared the video claimed it was stained but did not clarify with what substance.
The glove claims have not been confirmed by Lancashire Police and The Mirror has approached the force for comment.
