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Detectives and journalists slammed Lancashire Police for its controversial statement revealing that Nicola Bulley had ‘suffered with some significant issues with alcohol which were brought on by her ongoing struggles with the menopause‘ in a new documentary about the tragic case, one year after she initially disappeared.

Nicola Bulley: The Disappearance That Gripped Britain – which is airing on Channel 5 on February 2, at 9pm – spoke to crime experts who admitted they were baffled by the move. 

Parm Sandhu, a former detective at the Met, remarked that she’d ‘never come across a case where a woman’s menopausal state has been mentioned or discussed as part of an investigation’.

‘It didn’t further the investigation,’ she added. ‘It would’ve been fine to have just said that she had medical issues.’

Reporters – many of whom were covering the case – also told the programme how ‘astonished’ they were. 

Nicola Bulley: The Disappearance That Gripped Britain - which is airing on Channel 5 on February 2, at 9pm - spoke to crime experts who admitted they were baffled by the move. Nicola pictured

Nicola Bulley: The Disappearance That Gripped Britain – which is airing on Channel 5 on February 2, at 9pm – spoke to crime experts who admitted they were baffled by the move. Nicola pictured

Nicola Adam, the editor of the Lancashire Post, said: ‘I think me and every other middle aged woman in the country were thinking… why would you possibly release that information? 

‘There was some logic behind it – that they were protecting Nicola’s partner. They wanted to sure up their theory that Nicola was probably in the river.’

Radio host Nick Ferrari also revealed how the statement ‘annoyed people’ calling in to his LBC show ‘the most’ back then.

At the time, the force defended the ‘unusual step’ by saying it had needed to give more detail ‘to avoid any further speculation or misinterpretation’.

However MPs from all parties slated the move, describing it as ‘deeply troubling’ and accusing police of ‘victim-blaming’.

The documentary also questioned why Lancashire Police didn’t privately inform the media on Nicola’s mental health struggles from day one of her disappearance.

A briefing on February 15 explained that Nicola was immediately classified as ‘high risk’ when she was reported missing due to her ‘vulnerabilities’. 

‘They deemed there was something that was going to cause her to take her own life or impact on other people and that’s why it got classified as a high risk,’ detective and journalist Mark Williams-Thomas explained in the programme – which is why the police presence response on day one was so big.

At the time, the force defended the 'unusual step' by saying it had needed to give more detail 'to avoid any further speculation or misinterpretation'. Pictured: Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson and Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith at a police press conference last year

At the time, the force defended the ‘unusual step’ by saying it had needed to give more detail ‘to avoid any further speculation or misinterpretation’. Pictured: Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson and Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith at a police press conference last year

The documentary also questioned why Lancashire Police didn't privately brief the media on Nicola's mental health struggles from day one of her disappearance

The documentary also questioned why Lancashire Police didn’t privately brief the media on Nicola’s mental health struggles from day one of her disappearance

The report revealed Nicola's family had asked for the reference to menopause to be made public after officers advised them it was a necessary step to clamp down on misinformed speculation. Pictured with her partner Paul Ansell

The report revealed Nicola’s family had asked for the reference to menopause to be made public after officers advised them it was a necessary step to clamp down on misinformed speculation. Pictured with her partner Paul Ansell

‘If they had only said to Paul: “We are going to let media know this is a high risk missing person if we ask questions, it’s in relation to her mental health.” That would have stopped everything.

‘The media certainly would have respected that and gone “OK there’s obviously some issues there”. It wasn’t a story.

‘They failed to be very clear from the outset and they allowed incorrect narratives to remain… the story took on its own life.’

Meanwhile Hollie Bone, at the Mirror, added that journalists could have been briefed on Nicola’s mental health ‘off the record’ from the get-go.

‘It would’ve completely changed how the media dealt with the story,’ she said. ‘It made more sense why they were worried why Nicola had gone into the river. If somebody is struggling with their mental health, then, you know, things can happen.’

Peter Lane, the North of England correspondent at Channel 5 News, also stressed that police were early on asked if there was anything going on in Nicola’s life which might explain her disappearance – but press were told that the force dubbed it ‘not relevant’.

Channel 5 said Lancashire Police declined to take part in the documentary, but in a statement to the outlet said: ‘Nikki’s family remained at the heart of everything we did. The team was, sadly, proven right when Nikki was found.

‘The College of Policing review highlighted the high quality of the investigation as well as areas of learning which we are already implementing.’ 

Peter Lane, the North of England correspondent at Channel 5 News, also stressed that police were early on asked if there was anything going on in Nicola's life which might explain her disappearance

Peter Lane, the North of England correspondent at Channel 5 News, also stressed that police were early on asked if there was anything going on in Nicola’s life which might explain her disappearance

Lancashire Police faced a storm of criticism after revealing in February 2023 that the missing mother of two had been experiencing 'significant issues with alcohol'

Lancashire Police faced a storm of criticism after revealing in February 2023 that the missing mother of two had been experiencing ‘significant issues with alcohol’

It comes as, in November, a report said Lancashire Police was wrong to reveal Nicola’s ‘highly sensitive’ personal information.

The review, led by the College of Policing, found the force displayed ‘insufficient focus’ and errors of judgement. 

Lancashire Police faced a storm of criticism after revealing in February 2023 that the missing mother of two had been experiencing ‘significant issues with alcohol’ brought on by her struggle with the menopause.

The report revealed Nicola’s family had asked for the reference to menopause to be made public after officers advised them it was a necessary step to clamp down on misinformed speculation.

However, it concludes that the shock revelation – made as the baffling case made global headlines and sparked a string of conspiracy theories – was ‘avoidable and unnecessary’.

The report also criticised police for failing to cordon off the riverside spot where Nicola was last seen. And it concludes that a failure to declare a ‘critical incident’ in the early days meant specialist family liaison officers were not deployed until a week after Nicola went missing. 

Reacting to the report, Caroline Nokes – a senior Tory MP who chairs the Women and Equalities Committee – accused the force of ‘victim blaming and shaming’ and said: ‘It’s such terrible double standards and it’s driven by ingrained culture – it has to change.’ 

Nicola vanished after dropping her two daughters – aged six and nine – off at school in the Lancashire village of St Michael’s-on-Wyre and walking spaniel Willow along a riverside path on January 27 last year, sparking a massive search.

With no sign of her body, amateur sleuths took to social media and even began harassing villagers as they spread outlandish theories.

Her body was finally found in the water more than three weeks after she went missing, and just over a mile downstream.

Timeline: Disappearance of Nicola Bulley

January 27 

At 8.26am Ms Bulley left her home with her two daughters, aged six and nine, dropping them off at school. 

She then took her spaniel, Willow, for a walk along the path by the River Wyre at 8.43am, heading towards a gate and bench in the lower field. 

She was seen by a dog walker who knew her at around 8.50am, and their pets interacted briefly before they parted ways, according to the force. 

At 8.53am, Ms Bulley sent an email to her boss, followed by a message to her friends six minutes later, before logging on to a Microsoft Teams call at 9.01am. 

She was seen by a second witness at 9.10am, the last known sighting. 

Her phone was back in the area of the bench at 9.20am before the Teams call ended 10 minutes later, with her mobile remaining logged on after the call. 

At 10.50am, Ms Bulley’s family and the school attended by her children were told about her disappearance. 

Lancashire Constabulary launched an investigation into Ms Bulley’s whereabouts on the same day and appealed for witnesses to contact them. 

January 28 

Lancashire Constabulary deployed drones, helicopters and police search dogs as part of the major missing person operation. 

They were assisted by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, as well as Bowland Pennine mountain rescue team and the North West underwater search team. 

January 29 

Local residents held a meeting at the village hall to organise a search for Ms Bulley at 10.30am on Sunday, according to reports from The Mirror, and around 100 people joined in. 

Police urged volunteers to exercise caution, describing the river and its banks as ‘extremely dangerous’ and saying that activity in these areas presented ‘a genuine risk to the public’ 

January 30 

Superintendent Sally Riley from Lancashire Constabulary said police were ‘keeping a really open mind about what could have happened’, and that they were not treating Ms Bulley’s disappearance as suspicious. 

January 31 Lancashire Constabulary spoke with a potential witness, a man who had been walking a small white fluffy dog near the River Wyre at the time of Ms Bulley’s disappearance. 

Her family released a statement saying they had been ‘overwhelmed by the support’ in their community, and that her daughters were ‘desperate to have their mummy back home safe’.

February 2 

Lancashire Constabulary spoke with a second witness who they had identified with the help of the public using CCTV but they told police they did not have any further information to aid their inquiry. 

Officers from the North West Police Underwater and Marine support unit searched the area close to where Ms Bulley’s mobile phone was found, while police divers scoured the River Wyre. Meanwhile, Ms Bulley’s family appealed to the public for help tracing her. 

February 3 

Lancashire Police said it was working on the hypothesis that Ms Bulley may have fallen into the River Wyre. 

Ms Riley urged against speculation, but said it was ‘possible’ that an ‘issue’ with Ms Bulley’s dog may have led her to the water’s edge. 

February 4 

Lancashire Police announced it wanted to trace a ‘key witness’ who was seen pushing a pram in the area near where Ms Bulley went missing on the morning of her disappearance. 

February 5 

The woman described as a ‘key witness’ by police came forward. The force insisted she was ‘very much being treated as a witness’ as it warned against ‘totally unacceptable’ speculation and abuse on social media. 

Peter Faulding, leader of underwater search experts Specialist Group International (SGI), began searching the river after being called in by Ms Bulley’s family. 

February 6 

Ms Bulley’s friends said they hoped the help of a specialist underwater rescue team would give the family answers. 

Meanwhile, Ms Bulley’s partner Mr Ansell, in a statement released through Lancashire Police, said: ‘It’s been 10 days now since Nicola went missing and I have two little girls who miss their mummy desperately and who need her back. 

‘This has been such a tough time for the girls especially but also for me and all of Nicola’s family and friends, as well as the wider community and I want to thank them for their love and support.’ 

February 10 

Police urged people to refrain from indulging in commentary and conspiracy theories about Ms Bulley’s disappearance as speculation increases online. 

February 15 

Police held a press conference over the case and say the mother-of-two was classed as a ‘high-risk’ missing person immediately after she was reported missing due to ‘vulnerabilities.’ 

They later disclosed Ms Bulley’s struggles with alcohol and perimenopause. 

February 16 

In a statement released through Lancashire Police, Ms Bulley’s family said the focus had become ‘distracted from finding Nikki, and more about speculation and rumours into her private life’ and called for it to end. 

Lancashire Police referred itself to the police watchdog over contact the force had with Ms Bulley prior to her disappearance. 

Home Secretary Suella Braverman demanded an ‘explanation’ for the disclosure of Ms Bulley’s private information by the force. 

February 17 

Lancashire Police announced it was conducting an internal review into the handling of Ms Bulley’s disappearance and the Information Commissioner said he would ask the force questions about the disclosure. 

February 18 

Ms Braverman met with police leaders to discuss the handling of the investigation after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also expressed ‘concerns’ about the revelation. 

February 19 

Appearing on the morning broadcast round, Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt described the police disclosure as ‘shocking’ while shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, who also wrote to the force over its handling of the case, repeated her concerns about the ‘unusual’ level of private information made public about Ms Bulley. 

A new search effort was launched less than a mile from where Ms Bulley vanished. 

Later on Sunday, Lancashire Police announced they had found a body in the River Wyre. 

An inquest in June concluded that the 45-year-old had drowned after accidentally slipping into an icy river.

Returning a conclusion of accidental death, senior coroner for Lancashire Dr James Adeley ruled out the possibility of suicide or third party involvement.

He said there was ‘no evidence’ which enabled him to say exactly why she ended up in the water, which was so cold that she would have lost consciousness within seconds.

The review into the investigation was commissioned by Andrew Snowden, Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, and carried out by the College of Policing.

It looked at the operational response, communication with the media, public and family, and decisions on disclosing sensitive personal information.

Launching the report a few months ago, Mr Snowden said it contained ‘a significant amount of best practice and recommendations’ for police forces dealing with high-profile cases.

‘First and foremost I hope today’s report reassures Nicola’s family that Lancashire Constabulary carried out a professional and extensive investigation, and despite important learnings highlighted in the report, none of these actions would have changed the outcome of this tragic case,’ the Conservative politician said.

An inquest in June concluded that the 45-year-old had drowned after accidentally slipping into an icy river

An inquest in June concluded that the 45-year-old had drowned after accidentally slipping into an icy river

The review into the investigation was commissioned by Andrew Snowden, Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner, and carried out by the College of Policing

The review into the investigation was commissioned by Andrew Snowden, Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, and carried out by the College of Policing

‘Whilst the investigation into Nicola’s disappearance was found to be well handled and resourced, the media narrative was lost at an early stage, which had a detrimental impact on Nicola’s family and friends, and also the confidence of the wider community.’

Chief Constable Andy Marsh, CEO of the College of Policing, said: ‘The purpose of the review was not to attribute blame but identify areas of learning for the constabulary and wider policing.

‘The decision to not call the investigation a critical incident, despite it meeting the national definition, set the tone within the Constabulary, and led to several challenges.

‘The most notable of these was the way the constabulary released personal information about Nicola which was avoidable and unnecessary.

‘While we have not shied away from criticism there are also many areas of Lancashire Constabulary’s response that should be commended including an exemplary investigation and a well conducted search.

‘At the heart of the investigation was Nicola.

‘I am left in no doubt that she and her family were foremost in the minds of officers and staff throughout the search.’

Nicola Bulley: The Disappearance That Gripped Britain is on Channel 5 at 9pm, February 2 

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This post first appeared on Daily mail

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