Police allegedly stopped a search group that was looking for missing Nicola Bulley, 45, from investigating an abandoned house Wednesday night (Feb 8). The group reportedly believed the property was somehow connected to the mum-of-two's disappearance, but were quickly halted after a 'dispersal order' from officials.
It came as the police have urged the public to avoid looking for the missing mum themselves, warning to not "take the law into their own hands". As reported by the Daily Record, people have also been urged by officers to not direct online abuse towards those part of the search operation.
Lancashire Constabulary issued a statement on the matter, saying it "will not tolerate" people committing criminal offences by breaking into empty or derelict riverside properties to try to locate the missing mother-of-two. Commenting on the group's alleged search mission, TalkTV's Oliver Whitfield-Miocic said the police gave dispersal orders to a group of men.
READ MORE: Nicola Bulley could have used path with no CCTV as search expert’s river hunt ends
Speaking from the scene at the River Wyre - where Nicola Bulley was last seen at - he said: "The police here have just had to issue a dispersal order to a group of men believed to have travelled down from the Liverpool area. They wanted to go and search this abandoned house on the other side of the river where police believe Nicola Bulley had accidentally fallen in.
"All of this despite the police already having searched that area and, only 24 hours ago, the Superintendent in charge of this investigation asking people not to take the law into their own hands."
Posting on Twitter a short clip of the abandoned property, the news reporter wrote: "New damage to an empty brick building near where Nicola Bulley disappeared despite Lancashire Police asking people not to take the law into their own hands if they search for the missing mum of two. Undamaged yesterday so this happened after the police appeal. #NicolaBulley."
It comes as a close friend of Ms Bulley, Tilly Ann, has issued an appeal for police to search an abandoned house nearby to the river where the mum was believed to be last at. On Facebook, Tilly wrote: "The abandoned house and outbuildings etc have not yet been searched as it is not currently a crime investigation!"
In a press conference on Tuesday, Superintendent Sally Riley said: "We will not tolerate online abuse of anyone, including innocent witnesses, members of the family and friends, of local businesses, or of criminal damage or burglary. We will be taking a strong line on that, as you would expect."
She added: "There are some properties along the riverside which are empty or derelict. Whilst it may be well intentioned that people think that that could be a line of inquiry, I would ask them to desist from doing that. In some cases it may be criminal if they are breaking in and causing damage or committing a burglary."
She said officers have searched derelict riverside properties with the permission of owners. Ms Riley stated: "Because there is no criminal element yet identified, and we don't expect there to be in this inquiry, then we're not starting to go into houses because that's not where the inquiry is leading us.
She continued: "We would ask that people in the wider community, particularly on social media and online, do not speculate as to what may have happened to Nicola.
"This is particularly hurtful to her family, to her children, to her partner Paul, to her parents, her sister and her friends because it is not helpful to them, it is distressing and it is distracting for the police inquiry. Nor is it helpful if people, particularly if they have come from outside of the area, take it upon themselves to take the law into their own hands by trying to, for example, break into empty property.
"They may mean well, they may want to help. But they can help in thinking back if they were in the area to what information they may have of relevance to the police and holding the family in their thoughts."
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