Nicola Bulley: Police handling of case to be reviewed

The search for Nicola Bulley and investigation into her disappearance has drawn huge scrutiny

Police handling of the disappearance of Nicola Bulley is to be the subject of an independent review, Lancashire's police and crime commissioner has said.

She went missing on 27 January and was found dead in the River Wyre on Sunday.

Andrew Snowden has commissioned the College of Policing to review the case including the force's release of personal information about Ms Bulley.

Lancashire Police had "done their utmost" but "the narrative has been lost at times", he said.

The force said it welcomed the review and was "keen to take the opportunity to learn".

Police were criticised for revealing the 45-year-old had been struggling with the menopause and alcohol issues.

The review will focus on the investigation and search, communication and public engagement, and the releasing of personal information.

It comes after the police watchdog confirmed it has launched an investigation into a police visit to Ms Bulley's home weeks before her disappearance.

'Completely unprecedented'

Mr Snowden said: "The public understandably feel that there remain questions about the handling of elements of the police investigation, how it was communicated and the decision to release personal information, which need to be answered and explained."

"Now that the investigation and search is concluded it is right we ask those questions around why that information was released and make sure that is properly reviewed," he said.

He said the case was "completely unprecedented in the scale of social media and media interest".

Andrew Snowden has commissioned an independent review into the handling of the Nicola Bulley case

"Overall [Lancashire Police] have done their utmost in what has been a media frenzy at times to get across those key messages but I do think... those messages did not get through at critical times and control was lost over the narrative about why the police were making certain decisions," he said.

He said a full independent review would "ensure lessons can be learned, not just for Lancashire, but for all forces".

"This includes how such cases can be best investigated and communicated under such spotlight and scrutiny," he added.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct said it was investigating a visit to Ms Bulley's home on 10 January when officers were called to a "concern for welfare report" and health professionals also attended.

Lancashire Police said no arrests were made.

'Extremely concerned'

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has also said it has made initial inquiries with the force to understand "the reasoning which led to the disclosure" of Ms Bulley's personal information.

In a statement, an ICO spokeswoman said: "We will assess the information provided to consider whether any further action is necessary."

Meanwhile, broadcasting regulator Ofcom has said it is "extremely concerned" at complaints made by Ms Bulley's family over ITV and Sky News' conduct and said it had written to both "to ask them to explain their actions".

Investigations into the Nicola Bulley case

College of Policing

Policing's professional body will conduct a "full independent review" into Lancashire Constabulary's handling of the case, focusing on the investigation and search, communication and public engagement, and the releasing of personal information.

Independent Office for Police Conduct

The police watchdog has launched an investigation after a welfare check was carried out at Ms Bulley's home 17 days before she went missing.

Information Commissioner's Office

The independent body set up to uphold information rights has made initial inquiries with the force to understand release of personal information about Ms Bulley.

Ofcom

Broadcasting regulator Ofcom has written to both ITV and Sky News contact after complaints were made by Ms Bulley's family over their conduct in the aftermath of the mortgage adviser's body being found.

Inquest

The inquest will seek to determine when and how Ms Bulley died.

The inquest into Ms Bulley's death was earlier opened and adjourned.

Preston Coroner's Court heard she was identified by her dental records.

Her family chose not to attend "for reasons I can quite understand", senior coroner Dr James Adeley said.

He said a full inquest, which will ascertain when and how Ms Bulley died, was likely to be held in June.

Ms Bulley disappeared while walking her dog by the river after dropping off her daughters, aged six and nine, at school in St Michael's on Wyre.

Her dog was found shortly afterwards along with her phone - still connected to a work conference call - on a bench by a steep riverbank.

A major search operation was undertaken but it was more than three weeks before her body was found.

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