Nicola Bulley update: Lancashire Police to conduct internal review after Home Secretary meets police chief over its handling of investigation

It comes after the force was criticised for disclosing the missing mum’s private struggles with alcohol and the menopause in a press release on Wednesday (February 15).

On Friday, Home Secretary Suella Braverman requested a meeting with Chief Constable Chris Rowley and his senior team at Lancashire Constabulary to discuss why the force believed it necessary to reveal private information about the mum-of-two three weeks after she went missing.

Following the meeting, it was agreed that the force would conduct an internal review into its handling of the case so far.

Lancashire Police confirmed a date had been set for the review, to be conducted by their Head of Crime, Detective Chief Superintendent Pauline Stables.

During her meeting with Chief Constable Chris Rowley, Ms Braverman reportedly outlined her concerns over the disclosure of Nicola’s personal information and listened to the force’s explanation.

A source close to the Home Secretary said she also asked to be kept updated on the investigation.

On Friday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak joined Ms Braverman and a number of MPs and campaign groups in expressing concern that Nicola’s “private information was put into the public domain”.

The PM told broadcasters: “I’m pleased that the police are looking at how that happened in the investigation. Obviously my thoughts are with Nicola’s friends and family and the focus must now be on continuing to try and find her.”

Nicola’s dad Ernie Bulley has said “every day is a struggle” since his daughter vanished while walking her Springer Spaniel Willow in the village of St Michael’s on Wyre on Friday, January 27.

Speaking to Sky News on Friday, he said: “We’re no further on from three weeks ago. We just need a breakthrough to give us some hope.”

What did Lancashire Police say about Nicola’s private life and why is it controversial?

In a televised press conference on Wednesday, Lancashire Police revealed Nicola was classed as a “high-risk” missing person immediately after her partner Paul Ansell reported her disappearance.

They said this was based on “a number of specific vulnerabilities”, but refused to elaborate on what these were during the press conference.

The disclosure led to increased speculation and the force later released a statement on its website clarifying what these ‘vulnerabilities’ were and why they had led them to believe she had most likely fallen into the river.

The force claimed Nicola had been struggling with alcohol issues and the menopause, and had stopped taking HRT medication, and said these issues were related to a concern for welfare incident at her home on January 10, just 17 days before she went missing.

The disclosure of private information led to a backlash, with a number of politicians and campaign groups criticising Lancashire Police for making the information public.

Information Commissioner John Edwards has said he will be asking the force about its decision to make the information public, adding: “Data protection law exists to ensure people’s personal information is used properly and fairly. This includes ensuring personal details are not disclosed inappropriately.

“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.”

Detectives leading the investigation into Nicola’s disappearance have said their main working hypothesis is that she fell into the River Wyre in a 10-minute window after being seen by a number of dog walkers just minutes prior.

She was last seen at 9.10am taking her usual route with Willow, alongside the river, having earlier dropped off her two daughters at school.

Her phone, still connected to a work call for her job as a mortgage adviser, was found just over 20 minutes later on a bench overlooking the riverbank, with her dog running loose.

The search for her has since been extended to the sea, but she has not been found.

Her family have called for a stop to “speculation and rumour”, adding: “The public focus has to be on finding her and not making up wild theories about her personal life.”