Police are criticised for revealing personal information during their search for the missing mother.
www.bbc.co.uk
The disclosure of "highly sensitive" personal information by police investigating Nicola Bulley's disappearance was "avoidable and unnecessary", a review has concluded.
The report also said not declaring the investigation a critical incident created "significant challenges" for police, while the role of underwater search expert Peter Faulding was criticised.
“I had in fact found Nicola at 10.34am on February 7, 2023 after just 6 minutes of searching.
"The enhanced sonar file clearly shows Nicola’s body lying in a foetal position on her right side, legs bent.”
Mr Faulding’s latest claims contradict previous statements he made that same afternoon (February 7) when he told the media “there was no sign of Nicola” and he did not think she was in the river.
The bombshell revelation that Nicola Bulley had been experiencing 'significant issues with alcohol' before her disappearance was cleared with her family in advance, today's report reveals.
And it says references to her struggle with the menopause – which sparked allegations of 'victim-blaming' – were made at the specific request of her relatives.
But the report says the move – which sparked a storm of criticism from across the political spectrum – was 'avoidable and unnecessary', although not unlawful.
We reviewed over 350 documents, emails and phone records, interviewed more than 70 key people from Lancashire Constabulary and gained insight from over 30 subject matter experts outside the force, including those from the media.
Key findings
There were unprecedented levels of mainstream and social media interest in the case.
The police investigation and search was very well conducted by Lancashire Constabulary.
The decision not to call the investigation a critical incident, despite it meeting the national definition, set the tone within the constabulary and led to several challenges.
Media handling and communication of information to the public, and the management of this by the leadership team, led to a breakdown of public confidence.
Despite being lawful, the release of personal details regarding Nicola was avoidable and unnecessary.
The relationship between the police and mainstream media needs to be rebuilt.
After 45-year-old Nicola Bulley disappeared while walking her dog near the River Wyre in Lancashire in January 2023, it was determined that she died accidentally by drowning - but how did it happen?
Nicola's disappearance is the subject of a new documentary airing on Channel 5 on Friday night. The programme, Nicola Bulley: The Disappearance That Gripped Britain, will look at how the search for the missing woman unfolded and the speculation that surrounded it.
The documentary is set to feature an interview with Paul, Nicola's partner of 12 years, which he gave to Channel 5's Dan Walker as the search entered its third week. Paul told the channel that his family was going through "unprecedented hell" as they waited for news - but he vowed to never "give up on her".
The engineer, who said he had hoped to marry Nicola - known as Nikki to friends and family - and have their daughters as bridesmaids, described his partner as fun, loving and an exceptional mother. "If you’re friends with her, she’s the most loyal friend that you could ever have," he said. "With Nikki, what you see is what you get. There’s no hidden... nothing’s hidden."
Peter Faulding, who carried out a private search for Nicola Bulley last year, said Leicestershire Police have ignored his requests to help looking for two-year-old Xielo Maruziva
The Search For Nicola Bulley explores the media coverage and the impact of "amateur internet sleuths" conducting their own investigations, as well as hearing from Lancashire Police and Ms Bulley's family.
[…]
Director Rachel Lob-levyt, who worked on Louis Theroux Interviews and Hospital, told the Radio Times the "family tell their story in their own words, unfiltered".
She said: "We had a viewing with the family. It was difficult - obviously emotional for them. They feel the documentary really honours their experience, and honours Nikki.
[…]
The family said many people had aired their views about her disappearance and her "untimely and tragic death", but only they could speak about her as "a mummy, partner, daughter, and sister".
They added: "It was emotionally draining reliving some of our experiences, but we wanted to do this for Nikki."
The Search For Nicola Bulley is set to air on 3 October on BBC One.
Nicola Bulley online obsession became 'monster', family says
Nicola Bulley’s partner has described the social media focus and online obsession with her disappearance as a "monster" that got out of control.
Speaking publicly for the first time since Nicola’s body was found, Paul Ansell tells the BBC the family felt the initial wave of interest in the case was a positive thing.
They hoped it would keep the pressure on Lancashire Police to keep searching for her, he says. But that was quickly overtaken by a wave of amateur social media sleuths, posting hurtful and wildly misleading claims about the case - with the family receiving online hate.
"I think anything like that is a double-edged sword," he adds. "That's the problem. You're poking a monster."
Police officers investigating Nicola’s disappearance felt they had to release personal information about her struggle with the menopause and drinking.
"Because of the commentary that was coming up on social media, Paul was just key to a lot of people's theories, and we had to negate that," says Det Supt Rebecca Smith, who played a key role in the investigation.
The family were not happy about Nicola’s alcohol and menopause struggles being revealed to the public, with Paul saying Nicola would have been “mortified” about the information being shared.
"Went mad again, didn't it, in the media," recalls Louise. Nicola’s family criticised parts of the press for what they described as "absolutely appalling" conduct.
The family of Nicola Bulley have opened up on the traumatic 23 days last year when police frantically searched for the mum-of-two before her body was sadly found in the River
The family of Nicola Bulley have opened up on the traumatic 23 days last year when police frantically searched for the mum-of-two before her body was sadly found in the River Wyre
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