Police investigating the disappearance of Nicola Bulley have been questioned by the home secretary over the decision to release personal details about the missing mum.
Suella Braverman has spoken with police leaders and asked to be kept updated on the investigation, while prime minister Rishi Sunak has also expressed concern about the disclosure of private information in the case.
Lancashire Police came under fire for making Nicola's struggles with alcohol and the menopause public, three weeks after she disappeared in St Michael on Wyre in Lancashire on January 27 while walking her dog.
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Information Commissioner John Edwards has said he will be asking the force about its decision to make the information public, adding: “Data protection law exists to ensure people’s personal information is used properly and fairly. This includes ensuring personal details are not disclosed inappropriately.”
A source close to the Home Secretary said Ms Braverman had outlined her concerns about the handling of the case at a meeting with Chief Constable Chris Rowley and his senior team on Friday. In an interview on Friday evening, Mr Sunak said he was “concerned that private information was put into the public domain”, telling broadcasters: “I’m pleased that the police are looking at how that happened in the investigation."
In a press conference on Wednesday, Lancashire Police revealed that Nicola was classed as a “high-risk” missing person immediately after her partner reported her disappearance “based on a number of specific vulnerabilities”. They later added in a statement that she had been struggling with alcohol issues and the menopause, and had stopped taking HRT medication.
Former victims’ commissioner Dame Vera Baird said she believed the force had made a "dreadful" and "sexist" error in releasing the details, telling the BBC: “It is a dreadful error to put this in the public domain for absolutely nothing and I’m afraid I think it’s as sexist as it comes.”
Lancashire Police has since confirmed that an internal review into the investigation will take place. A police spokeswoman said: “A review of the investigation is diarised and will be conducted by our Head of Crime Detective Chief Superintendent Pauline Stables.”
As the investigation into the missing 45-year-old reached the three-week mark, Nicola’s father Ernie Bulley said in an interview with Sky News that “every day is a struggle” since his daughter vanished, adding: "[We] just need a breakthrough to give us some hope."
Nicola was last seen at 9.10am taking her usual route with her dog Willow, alongside the river, having earlier dropped off her two daughters at school. Her phone, still connected to a work call for her job as a mortgage adviser, was found just over 20 minutes later on a bench overlooking the riverbank, with her dog running loose.
The search for her has since been extended to the sea, but she has not been found. Police say they are working on the theory that she fell into the river.
Nicola's family have called for an end to the “speculation and rumours” about her private life and the the circumstances in which she went missing. In a statement on Thursday, they said: “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.”
It has also emerged that people living in the village where Nicola disappeared had hired a private security firm over safety concerns. Wyre Council leader Michael Vincent said residents are “scared in their own homes” because of interest in the case.
Wyre Council also removed councillors’ contact details from its website due to “inappropriate emails and phone calls” about the case.
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