The diving expert who made headlines for being brought in to help search for Nicola Bulley has insisted he is proud of his work even though he was “removed from the National Crime Agency’s expert list”.
Last week Peter Faulding’s Specialist Group International (SGI) was suspended until a review can be carried out into the handling of Nicola's disappearance, The Times reported.
The expert team was recruited by Bulley’s family to help find the then-missing 45-year-old mum of two 10 days after she went missing, he and his team conducted a series of underwater searches for three days.
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As well as conducting these searches they also scanned a three-mile stretch of the river between St Michael’s on Wyre and Cartford Bridge using "state of the art" sonar equipment.
Faulding said, while the search was ongoing, he would find Bulley if she was in the river.
Faulding has now hit back after his team were reportedly taken off the NCA after the news that his SGI team is no longer listed as an expert search group.
In a statement that was published on his company's Facebook, he wrote: "There are several reports in the media today based on a story that first appeared in The Times. The Times story is based on information 'confirmed' to the paper by 'law enforcement sources'.
"The story pertains to a confidential matter between SGI and the National Crime Agency. We are not at liberty to comment on matters pertaining to the Expert Advisor’s Database at this time or the reported review of SGI’s inclusion on the database except to state that SGI’s operational ability, integrity and professional search and rescue capabilities are not in question in these matters."
The statement added: "We are proud of our record in specialist search and rescue operations, conducted over many decades, during which we have worked with police departments and other agencies to the high standards expected of nationally recognised specialists. I would ask you all not to speculate or pass blame any further."
The experts in the EAD are used by the National Crime Agency to crack a range of cases, however, a National Crime Agency spokesperson told The Times that it "does not employ, endorse or accredit experts" on its adviser database.
The spokesperson continued: "The database is subject to continual review and its purpose is to maintain a list of expertise UK law enforcement can draw upon when required.
"We proactively seek feedback from customers regarding experts’ performance and contribution. The monitoring of performance equally applies to individuals and organisations who become involved in investigations without NCA engagement."
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