Lancashire police released more information on the investigation into missing Nicola Bulley yesterday.
During a press conference police said she had "specific vulnerabilities" that made her a "high-risk" missing person. Later, officers added details about the mum's private life, including "issues with alcohol".
The force admitted that it's "unusual" for them to go into this level of detail but felt it was important to "avoid any further speculation". Lancashire Police even referenced an incident on January 10 where police and health professionals were called to a concern for welfare at her address, an incident which remains under investigation they say.
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Now people, including MPs, have criticised the release of information. Labour MP Stella Creasy tweeted: "The decision to disclose this level of detail on a missing person's private life, with no evidence that this is assisting in finding her, is deeply troubling. The police need to be much clearer as to why any of this helps find Nicola Bulley or support this investigation."
In reply, Silkie Carlo added: "Lancashire Police broadcasting missing Nicola Bulley’s health issues and hormone status to the world is a *serious* invasion of her privacy with no obvious benefits for the investigation. A shocking decision when the police’s treatment of women is rightly in the spotlight.
"It’s not at all clear how the police are justifying this disclosure, which seems to be aimed at shoring up public support for Lancashire Police’s own forgone conclusions. The ramifications of this invasion of medical privacy could be really serious, including for Nicola’s safety."
While Karl Wardlaw said: "I agree with you. I'm not sure how that helps by releasing this information into the public domain. Seems to me that it would be distressing to her family and friends."
And writer Joanne Lake said: "Totally agree Stella. The fact that all this deeply personal information is now in the public domain, and indelibly so, must be incredibly upsetting for the family."
A spokesperson from Lancashire Police said: "Today we held a live press conference to provide some updates in relation to our search for missing mum Nicola Bulley. We described how Nicola had some vulnerabilities at the time she went missing and we just wanted to expand on that a little.
"It's really unusual for us to go into this level of detail about someone’s private life, but we felt it was important to clarify what we meant when we talked about vulnerabilities to avoid any further speculation or misinterpretation.
"Sadly, it is clear from speaking to Paul and the family that Nicola had in the past suffered with some significant issues with alcohol which were brought on by her ongoing struggles with the menopause and that these struggles had resurfaced over recent months.
"This caused some real challenges for Paul and the family. As a result of those issues, a response car staffed by both police and health professionals attended a report of concern for welfare at Nicola’s home address on January 10th.
"No one has been arrested in relation to this incident, but it is being investigated. We have explained to Nicola’s family why we have released this further information and we would ask that their privacy is respected at this difficult time."
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