Lancashire Police's most recent statement including private details about missing mum Nicola Bulley has been slammed online. The statement went into detail about the missing mum's 'significant issues' with alcohol and 'ongoing struggles' with the menopause.
This came after a press conference today where police said that Nicola had some 'vulnerabilities' which were being taken into account as part of the search for her. They said these 'struggles' had resurfaced over recent month and caused 'real challenges' for her husband Paul and the rest of the family.
Lancashire Police even referenced an incident on January 10 where police and health professionals were called to a concern for welfare' at her address, an incident which remains under investigation they say. Police described the statement as an 'unusual step' to take to go into such detail over a person's private life but they claimed it was justified to 'avoid any further speculation or misinterpretation'.
READ MORE: Missing mum Nicola Bulley had 'significant alcohol issues'
The statement has received widespread criticism online. This ranges from the simple fact of releasing such personal information regarding Nicola and to the effect this will have on her children, to questions over how this aids the search for her.
Labour MP Stella Creasy said: "The decision to disclose this level of detail on a missing person's private life, with no evidence that this is assisting in finding her, is deeply troubling. The police need to be much clearer as to why any of this helps find Nicola Bulley or support this investigation."
Writer Joanne Lake echoed these sentiments saying: "Totally agree Stella. The fact that all this deeply personal information is now in the public domain, and indelibly so, must be incredibly upsetting for the family."
Beth Edwards said: "Please can someone articulate my feelings around the latest #NicolaBulley update because I am bloody speechless. I think the best I’ve come up with is don’t pathologize her, just f****** find her."
Richard Saunders said: "The fact that the police feel that they had to divulge that Nicola Bulley had significant issues with alcohol due to struggles with the menopause makes me uncomfortable. Give the poor woman some privacy. It’s none of our business."
Liam Hunt added: "The Nicola Bulley ‘breaking news’ isn’t even news. It’s completely insensitive, it adds nothing to the case and it’s what every single woman has to goes through at some point in their life. Lancashire Police are just rubbishing her reputation."
Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu said: "What the hell! Nicola Bulley "struggled with some significant issues with alcohol" & had "ongoing struggles with menopause" by Lancashire Police is disgraceful What the hell has that got to do with finding Nicola? Is she not worth finding? Is public perception meant to change?!"
Journalist Petronella Wyatt added: "The Lancashire Police have just clarified, saying Nicola Bulley had “issues with alcohol” brought on by the menopause. This is horrible, should not have been made public, and certainly doesn’t mean there was no one else involved. Police making excuses for their incompetence."
Nicola has been missing for 20 days from St Michael's-on-Wyre with intensive searches taking place of the River Wyre, near to where she went missing. This has been expanded in recent days as searches for the missing mum continue. Nicola is described as a white, 45 years old, 5ft 3ins tall, with light brown shoulder-length hair. She was last seen wearing a long, knee length black quilted gilet with a hood.
To read the full statement click here.
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