Ofcom has contacted Sky and ITV about complaints made by the family of Nicola Bulley that the broadcasters intruded on their grief when they had asked for privacy after her body was found.
The broadcasting regulator said it was “extremely concerned” to hear the comments from the family of Bulley, whose body was identified on Monday after being pulled from a Lancashire river after a near month-long search.
The frank statement by the family, which was read by police at a press conference on Monday evening, named the two broadcasters specifically and called for the media and public to be “held accountable” for what had been an “appalling” experience.
An Ofcom spokesperson said: “We are extremely concerned to hear the comments made by the family of Nicola Bulley about two broadcast licensees. We have written to ITV and Sky to ask them to explain their actions. We will then assess whether any further action is required.”
The family’s statement condemned the media and the public, who had “accused [Paul Ansell, Bulley’s partner] of wrongdoing, misquoted and vilified friends and family”.
The statement said: “This is absolutely appalling, they have to be held accountable. This cannot happen to another family.
“We tried last night [Monday] to take in what we had been told in the day, only to have Sky News and ITV making contact with us directly when we expressly asked for privacy.
“They again have taken it upon themselves to run stories about us to sell papers and increase their own profiles. It is shameful they have acted in this way. Leave us alone now.
“Do the press and other media channels and so-called professionals not know when to stop? These are our lives and our children’s lives.”
The Guardian understands that Sky believed there had been an open, two-way dialogue with the family and the police since Bulley was reported missing.
ITV said: “As a responsible broadcaster, we will cooperate fully and respond in detail to Ofcom’s request for information.
“We express sincere condolences to the family at this difficult time and we will not be commenting further.”
The controversy came as Lancashire constabulary faced further scrutiny over its decision to disclose highly personal details about Bulley last week.
Downing Street suggested that the force could face an independent review if the government was not satisfied with the outcome of an internal investigation.
A No 10 spokesman said it expected the constabulary to be “transparent” about the internal review and would “consider the next steps as appropriate” after reviewing the findings.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said on Tuesday that it was considering whether to take further action against the force over the disclosure of private information about Bulley.
An ICO spokeswoman said: “We have made initial inquiries with Lancashire police to understand the reasoning which led to the disclosure of Ms Bulley’s information. We will assess the information provided to consider whether any further action is necessary.”
The body of Bulley, who went missing on 27 January, was found by two members of the public in undergrowth near the village of St Michael’s on Wyre on Sunday. It was less than a mile from where she was last seen walking her dog after dropping off her two young daughters at school.
Lancashire constabulary said the case was now in the hands of the coroner.
