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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
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Observer editorial

The Observer view on the mistakes made in the investigation into Nicola Bulley’s disappearance

Police officers walk past a missing person poster for Nicola Bulley in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire.
Police officers walk past a missing person poster for Nicola Bulley in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

Public trust in the police has fallen significantly in recent years as a result of a string of serious institutional failings that have rocked confidence in police forces across the UK. This has formed the backdrop for the intense public interest in the disappearance of Nicola Bulley just over three weeks ago and the subsequent police investigation into what happened.

The disappearance of a loved one is a worst nightmare with which most people will immediately connect and it is unusual for there to be so little emerging information about such a case. This has undoubtedly fuelled media interest and the sharing of conspiracy theories and amateur sleuthing on social media platforms such as TikTok.

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