Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
World
Ellen Kirwin

Missing Nicola Bulley has 'specific vulnerabilities' say police

Lancashire Police has confirmed that the "main working hypothesis" remains that Nicola Bulley fell into the River Wyre.

Speaking at a press conference, senior investigating officer Detective Supt Rebecca Smith said the mother-of-two has been branded a "high-risk" missing person with "specific vulnerabilities." She also confirmed that detectives have found no evidence of a "criminal aspect or third party involvement."

During the press conference, Supt Smith said she hope to clear up some false information, accusations and rumours which are distracting in the search for Nicola. The 45-year-old disappeared while walking her springer spaniel, Willow, in the village of St Michael's on Wyre after she dropped her two daughters - aged six and nine - at school on January 27.

READ MORE: Two school children charged with murder of Brianna Ghey

After 19 days of searching, a press conference was held today at Lancashire Police HQ, Detective Supt Rebecca Smith said: "As soon as she was reported missing, following the information that was provided to the police by her partner Paul, and based on a number of specific vulnerabilities that we were made aware of, Nicola was graded as high-risk.

"That is normal in a missing person investigation with the information we were in possession of. As any senior investigating officer does, you form a number of hypotheses, that is scenarios which are possible from the information to hand.

"Those hypotheses included the one that she possibly could have gone into the river, that there could have been third-party involvement and lastly, that she could have left the area voluntarily.

"Those hypotheses have remained in place throughout, are reviewed regularly. At the initial stages based on the information I received, I made it clear that it was my working hypothesis at that time based with all the facts that the main hypothesis I was working on at that time was that Nicola had gone in the river."

Detective Superintendent Smith, 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."

READ NEXT: Barmaid may need plastic surgery after drinker 'exploded' her nose

Coca Cola warning to anyone who buys any of its products

15 things you could do in 70s Liverpool that you can't do now

Live Nicola Bulley updates as police hold press conference

John Lewis shoppers 'fallen in love' with £47 dress that 'ticks all the boxes'

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.