The way personal information was released by police about Nicola Bulley was “sexist” and a “dreadful error”, the former victims’ commissioner has said.
Lancashire Police have come under heavy criticism for revealing the details about the missing mother's “vulnerabilities” in the weeks before her disappearance that they say made her “high risk”. They later added in a statement that she had been struggling with alcohol issues and the menopause, and had stopped taking HRT medication.
The Information Commissioner has launched a probe about the police's decision to disclose Nicola's personal health information, saying in a statement today that he will 'be asking Lancashire Police to set out how they reached the decision to disclose this information'. The Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, has also demanded an 'explanation' over the revelations.
And on Friday, former victims’ commissioner Dame Vera Baird, speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, said: “A future family like this is going to face the torment of not knowing whether to run the risk of gratuitously wrecking your relative’s reputation by giving every detail away … or missing the chance of catching whoever has got them, or getting her back.
READ MORE: Nicola Bulley latest as family release statement detailing missing mum's health struggles
“So, I’m afraid this is the biggest error that I have seen for quite a long time. It’s going to just, you know, very sadly, to undermine trust in the police yet further.”
Asked if it was an error that would have been made if the potential victim was a man, she said: “I do not think that it would. Would we have had police officers saying, you know, if it was Nicholas, he’s been unfortunately tied down with alcohol because he’s been suffering from erectile dysfunction for the last few weeks?
"I think not. You can hear all the senior police officers squirming as I say it, I would have thought. No, 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.”
The Dame also said she is worried about people making complaints in future after the police disclosed personal information about Nicola Bulley. “I don’t think they can think it’s relevant, can they?" she added. "Because they have been subject to heavy and, in my view, totally justified criticism since they disclosed it.
“I’m sure they would have explained themselves if they had an explanation … if it was relevant it needed to be in a public domain at the start and it wasn’t. I mean, that is a really worrying error. It is frankly dreadful. Coming back to this information – you know, I’m worried about future people making complaints.”
She added: “If one of your relatives has gone missing … and may have some weaknesses, as goodness knows we all do, then would you, first of all, go to the police at all as early as you should when you will have to tell them all the intimate details to help them with their inquiry – that’s essential.
“But would you if it’s going to be on the front page of The Sun the next day or a week later? And if you do, will you tell them these details?”
John Edwards, Information Commissioner, has also released a statement in response to Lancashire Police’s statement over Ms Bulley.
He said: “Data protection law exists to ensure people’s personal information is used properly and fairly. This includes ensuring personal details are not disclosed inappropriately.
"Police can disclose information to protect the public and investigate crime, but they would need to be able to demonstrate such disclosure was necessary. We recognise that at this stage of an intensive, live investigation, the force must focus all their energies on the enquiry.
"But given the high profile nature of this case, we will be asking Lancashire Police to set out how they reached the decision to disclose this information in due course.”
Family call for end to speculation
Lancashire Police have also referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct over the contact the force had with Nicola proper to her disappearance. It was revealed that officers attended her family home in Inskip on January 10 - 17 days before she went missing, on January 27.
It was confirmed that this was a welfare visit and that no arrests were made. The police watchdog has said it is 'assessing the available information' following the referral to decide whether an investigation is required into the contact police had with Nicola earlier in January.
The referral came after her family called for an end into speculation about her private life. In a statement issued by Lancashire Police, the family said: "It has now been three weeks since Nikki went missing.
"We, as a family, believe that the public focus has become distracted from finding Nikki, and more about speculation and rumours into her private life. As a family, we were aware that Lancashire Police, last night, released a statement with some personal details.
"Although we know that Nikki would not have wanted this, there are people out there threatening to sell stories about her. This is appalling and needs to stop."
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