Lancashire Police have issued several significant updates on their investigation into the disappearance of Nicola Bulley on day 20 of the search into the missing mother-of-two. They include revealing that Nicola was classed as "high risk" and had certain "vulnerabilities" and addressing many theories in the investigation including a "stained glove" found near the scene, men who apparently were trying to hide their faces and a "red van".
Ms Bulley disappeared while walking her springer spaniel Willow in the village of St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, after she dropped her two daughters – aged six and nine – at school on January 27. Extensive searches have been carried out in the area for the past two weeks but no clues to her disappearance have been found. Lancashire Police have always said officers are keeping an "open mind" as they continues appealing for information regarding Nicola's whereabouts but that their "main working hypothesis" had always been that she had entered the river. The force is still searching the river towards the sea at Morecambe Bay with the idea that the 45-year-old, from Inskip, may have fallen in.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith said there was "not one single piece of information" that had come to light since her disappearance to suggest criminal third-party involvement or that Nicola had otherwise left the area.
Read more: Nicola Bulley press conference live updates as police set to issue update
During the press conference, the officers addressed a number of scenarios and theories relating to what has happened to Nicola that have been widely reported in the media. They also used the briefing to address what they say is criticism of their investigation into the disappearance of the 45-year-old mum-of-two.
1. Nicola had 'vulnerabilities' and was considered 'high risk'
Police say Nicola Bulley had 'vulnerabilities' before she went missing and her case was quickly listed as 'high risk'. Officers say they will not go into the details of Nicola's vulnerabilities - but those vulnerabilities influenced their decision to list Nicola as high risk. DS Rebecca Smith said: "I hope with all my heart that we find Nicola Bulley alive." But she said the 'likelihood' is that Nicola went into the river. She added: "I'm not going to go into the details of those individual vulnerabilities. I've asked you to respect the family, who are going through unimaginable pain and distress at this moment. But those vulnerabilities based our decision-making in terms of grading Nicola as high risk and have continued to form part of my investigation throughout."
2. The derelict house near to the location she was last seen
Addressing the derelict house near the river and the site where Nicola was last known to be, DS Smith said it has been searched three times with the permission of the owner. She said: "Nicola is not in there."
3. The 'shabby' red van seen in the area
There had also been reports of a "shabby" looking red van acting suspiciously in the area on the morning of Nicola's disappearance. Addressing this police said they had not located the driver but that they did not believe it to be suspicious.
4. Fishermen seen acting 'suspiciously' in the area
Police had received reports of fisherman acting 'suspiciously' in the area and that they seemed to be making attempts to hide their faces. DS Smith said she did not consider it suspicious that fishermen would be near the river. She said no suspicious men have been seen on any of the CCTV that covers the area, that appeals for any such fishermen to come forward have been made and that they have been in touch with local angling clubs. She added that police are still looking to find them.
5. A glove found at the scene
She said a glove found at the scene is not believed to be relevant to the investigation. Addressing a report in The Sun newspaper, Smith said a glove has been recovered but this is not relevant to the investigation and does not belong to Bulley. She said: "TikTokers have been playing their own private detectives and have been in the area."
DS Smith hit out at social media video bloggers coming to the scene, saying it has impacted the investigation. She said she has never seen anything like it in her 29 years experience in policing. She said amateur sleuths and social media video-makers have "distracted significantly" from police efforts. She said: "Obviously, we can't disregard anything and we've reviewed everything that's come in but of course it has distracted us significantly."
6. CCTV in the caravan park
She discounted a theory that CCTV around a caravan site hasn't been working and says that isn't the case. She also says police have been helped and assisted by caravan owners.
7. The work call Nicola's phone was still connected to
DS Smith said there was nothing unusual about the work call that Nicola made. She said Nicola would have had the phone in front of her while on a Teams call with her work. She would not usually have had the mic or camera on as it was not necessary to do so. She also said Nicola's Fitbit has been unable to provide any new information. She said CCTV covers almost every exit from the walk area and that along with dashcam footage has shown Nicola did not leave the river walk area on her own or with anyone else.
8. The way her dog, Willow, was acting
She also said there was nothing unusual about the way Nicola's dog was found, after reports that it would have appeared more "distressed" had Nicola fallen into the river.
9. No evidence of a crime
Lancashire Police Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson said no evidence of a crime has been found in the investigation into Nicola Bulley's disappearance. He added: "We've shared more detail in this conference than would normally be the case but we intended, by doing so - both in terms of the scale of the investigation and the resources and the intensity of it and something around Nicola's vulnerabilities - that we are able to counter some of... the ill-informed speculation and conjecture that has at times distracted the investigation from what ought to have been its priorities. It has been a distraction. That is potentially damaging to the investigation, the community of St Michael's and most importantly Nicola's family.
DS Smith said: "As any senior investigating officer does, you form a number of hypotheses - that is scenarios which are possible from the information to hand. Those hypotheses included the one that she possibly could have gone into the river, that there could have been third-party involvement and lastly, that she could have left the area voluntarily. Those hypotheses have remained in place throughout, are reviewed regularly."
10. The police working on the case
Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson said 40 dedicated officers have been working on the case - going through hundreds of hours of CCTV, speaking to 300 people and visiting 300 premises as well as dealing with 1,500 pieces of evidence. They say police have been working with specialist agencies on the search operation. They say they are continuing to search the river, and continue to believe there is no criminal involvement in the case.
ACC Lawson says expert search advisors have been following nationally recognised methods in the search. He said there is no evidence that any crime has been committed or that any third person is involved in the disappearance. Speaking at a press conference at Lancashire Police headquarters on Wednesday, ACC Lawson said: “I would emphasise that it remains the case there is no evidence to indicate a criminal aspect or third party involvement in Nicola’s disappearance. However, the officers involved in the investigation are the same experienced specialists and many senior officers who are concerned with the investigation of the most serious and complex crimes.”
He said the investigation continues. Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith said all hypotheses remain in place - that Nicola could have gone into the river, that a third person could have been involved or that she could have chosen to disappear. She called for all the 'speculation and rumour' to end for the sake of Nicola's family.
Speaking at a press conference at Lancashire Police headquarters on Wednesday, ACC Lawson said: “I would emphasise that it remains the case there is no evidence to indicate a criminal aspect or third party involvement in Nicola’s disappearance."
Read next:
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- 'My mum almost set her house on fire and went missing for hours in odd shoes and carrying a pile of tea cloths'
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