‘All UK forces can learn from this’: Pressure mounts for an independent probe into Lancashire Police’s handling of the tragic Nicola Bulley case
- Police are facing questions about their 23-day probe to find Nicola Bulley
- It follows the discovery of Nicola Bulley’s body in the river Wyre on Sunday
The clamour for an independent inquiry into the police handling of the Nicola Bulley investigation intensified yesterday – as former senior officers united with the former victims’ commissioner to demand outside intervention.
With Lancashire Police facing questions about their 23-day probe, which ended with the discovery of the 45-year-old mortgage adviser’s body on Sunday, there were suggestions that a bishop could lead any examination – as happened with the Hillsborough football stadium disaster inquiry.
Dame Vera Baird, a former barrister who stepped down as victims’ commissioner in September, said it was ‘not a good idea’ for police to investigate themselves, even if inquiries were conducted by outside forces, as it risks failing to restore trust.
Lancashire Police have come under intense scrutiny over their handling of the search and the disclosure of Ms Bulley’s personal struggles after she vanished from a riverside footpath in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire. But so far only an internal review by the force has been confirmed. Home Secretary Suella Braverman is awaiting its results.
Despite a search involving numerous officers, Ms Bulley’s body was eventually found by psychic Jason Rothwell and a friend in reeds on the River Wyre, a mile from the riverside bench where her mobile phone had been recovered 23 days earlier. At a press conference held last week to stop speculation, Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith, the senior investigating officer, revealed that the mother of two had ‘specific vulnerabilities’ and had been ‘graded as high-risk’.
Body found in the river Wyre on Sunday was confirmed to be mother-of-two Nicola Bulley
Dame Vera said: ‘I think it is quite difficult to think of another force leading an investigation into Lancashire Police’s handling of the Bulley case as they may be as inexperienced in very major investigations as sometimes Lancashire appeared to be.
‘Somebody like Bishop James Jones, who did the inquiry into Hillsborough, could do it more quickly and obviously very sensitively as it is also about ethics, isn’t it? But I think whoever did it would need an adviser in public information management because it seems to be across those two pieces of territory.’
The calls for an independent probe came as Ms Bulley’s friend, Emma White, wrote in an online post: ‘Our hearts are broken, we continue to support the family.’
Meanwhile, media watchdog Ofcom said it was ‘extremely concerned’ by comments from Ms Bulley’s grieving family over approaches from broadcasters following the news that a body had been discovered.
Dai Davies, a retired chief superintendent, said any independent inquiry should also focus on Lancashire’s police and crime commissioner (PCC).
Andrew Snowden, the force’s PCC, faced criticism at the weekend after it emerged he had tweeted a selfie with Chief Constable Chris Rowley, just 87 minutes after Lancashire Police provided a bombshell – and heavily criticised – update last week detailing Ms Bulley’s struggles with alcohol and the menopause.
Mr Davies, an ex-Head of Royal Protection, said: ‘There should be an independent review – not only into the actions of the police but into the actions of the police commissioner – to learn the lessons and to ensure all forces in the UK can learn lessons from this.’
Ofcom said yesterday that it had written to ITV and Sky following criticism from Ms Bulley’s family. A statement on Monday accused the broadcasters of making contact with them directly the previous night, despite a plea for privacy as they attempted to digest the news that a body had been recovered from the River Wyre.
Lancashire Police are facing questions about their 23-day probe to find Nicola Bulley
Mr Davies, an ex-Head of Royal Protection, said: ‘There should be an independent review’. Pictured: Floral tributes and messages left at the village bridge and bench where Nicola Bulley who went missing
In the statement, read by Detective Chief Inspector Pauline Stables, the family also criticised the wider media, with accusations relatives and friends had been ‘misquoted and vilified’.
It continued: ‘They again, have taken it upon themselves to run stories about us to sell papers and increase their own profiles. It is shameful they have acted in this way. Leave us alone now. Do the Press and other media channels and so-called professionals not know when to stop? These are our lives and our children’s lives.’
Ofcom said: ‘We are extremely concerned to hear the comments made by the family of Nicola Bulley about two broadcast licensees. We have written to ITV and Sky to ask them to explain their actions. We will then assess whether any further action is required.’
ITV said: ‘As a responsible broadcaster, we will cooperate fully and respond in detail to Ofcom’s request for information. We express sincere condolences to the family at this difficult time and we will not be commenting further.’
Sky has received Ofcom’s letter, it is understood, and will work closely with the watchdog to answer its questions.
Pressed on whether the internal review process would see Lancashire Police just ‘marking their own homework’, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘We would expect the force to be transparent. That does not preclude further work at the end of that.’
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