Police investigating the disappearance of Nicola Bulley have spoken out to address what they say is criticism of their investigation into the disappearance of the 45-year-old mum of two. 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, Assistant Chief Constable Peter 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 said her main working hypothesis is that Nicola somehow went into the river. She said there is not a single piece of evidence to suggest anyone else is involved in the disappearance.
DS Smith said there was nothing unusual about the work call that Nicola made, and nothing unusual about the way her dog was found. She said Nicola would have had the phone in front of her while on a Teams call with her work. She 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.
Turning to the derelict house near the site, DS Smith said it has been searched three times. She said in terms of a red van reported in the area, she does not believe it to be suspicious but they are trying to trace the driver. She said fisherman reported as being 'suspicious' in the area - she said it is not suspicious that people would be fishing on the river.
DS Smith said no suspicious men have been seen on any of the CCTV that covers the area. She said a glove found at the scene is not believed to be relevant to the investigation.
And in terms of CCTV at a caravan site said not to be working, DS Smith said that is 'not the case'.
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, Assistant Chief Constable Peter 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.”
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.
Here is a timeline of events surrounding the disappearance:
– January 27
At 8.26am Ms Bulley left her home with her two daughters, aged six and nine, dropping them off at school and engaging in a brief conversation with another parent around 15 minutes later.
(Peter Byrne/PA)
She then took Willow for a walk along the path by the River Wyre at 8.43am, heading towards a gate in the lower field and was later seen by dog walker who knew her.
At 8.53am, Ms Bulley sent an email to her boss, followed by a message to her friends six minutes later, before logging on to a Microsoft Teams call at 9.01am.
She was seen by a second witness at 9.10am, the last known sighting.
Her phone was back in the area of the bench at 9.20am before the Teams call ended 10 minutes later, with her mobile remaining logged on after the call.
At 9.33am, another dog walker found her phone on a bench beside the river, with Willow darting between the two.
At 10.50am, Ms Bulley’s family and the school attended by her children were told about her disappearance.
– January 28
Lancashire Constabulary deployed drones, helicopters and police search dogs as part of the major missing person operation.
They were assisted by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, as well as Bowland Pennine mountain rescue team and the North West underwater search team.
(PA Graphics)
– January 29
Local residents held a meeting at the village hall to organise a search, with police urging volunteers to remain cautious.
– January 30
Superintendent Sally Riley from Lancashire Constabulary said police were “keeping a really open mind about what could have happened”, and that they were not treating Ms Bulley’s disappearance as suspicious.
– January 31
Lancashire Constabulary spoke with a potential witness, a man who had been walking a small white fluffy dog near the River Wyre at the time of Ms Bulley’s disappearance.
Her family released a statement saying they had been “overwhelmed by the support” in their community, and that her daughters were “desperate to have their mummy back home safe”.
– February 1
Ms Bulley’s parents, Ernest and Dot Bulley, spoke to The Mirror about the “horror” they faced over the possibility of never seeing her again.
– February 2
Lancashire Constabulary spoke with a second witness who they had identified with the help of the public using CCTV but they told police they did not have any further information to aid their inquiry.
Officers from the North West Police Underwater and Marine support unit searched the area close to where Ms Bulley’s mobile phone was found, while police divers scoured the River Wyre.
Meanwhile, Ms Bulley’s family appealed to the public for help tracing her.
– February 3
Lancashire Police said it was working on the hypothesis that Ms Bulley may have fallen into the River Wyre.
– February 4
The force announced it wanted to trace a “key witness” who was seen pushing a pram in the area near where Ms Bulley went missing on the morning of her disappearance.
– February 5
The woman described as a “key witness” by police came forward.
The force insisted she was “very much being treated as a witness” as it warned against “totally unacceptable” speculation and abuse on social media.
Reports emerged that a private underwater rescue team was set to assist police in the search for Ms Bulley.
(Danny Lawson/PA)
– February 6
Underwater search experts arrived to help.
Ms Bulley’s friends said they hoped the help of a specialist underwater rescue team would give the family answers.
Her partner, Paul Ansell, said in a statement: “It’s been 10 days now since Nicola went missing and I have two little girls who miss their mummy desperately and who need her back.”
– February 7
Police rejected suggestions she could have been a victim of crime.
Lancashire Police said their extensive inquiries have “so far not found anything of note”.
A team of 40 detectives were working on approximately 500 different lines of inquiry, it was said.
The force urged the public to avoid “distressing” speculation about what may have happened to Ms Bulley.
Elsewhere, underwater search expert Peter Faulding, who was helping to find her, said he did not think the missing mother was in the water.
– February 8
Mr Ansell spent 10 minutes on the riverbank near the bench where Ms Bulley’s phone was found.
Paul Ansell visited the scene (PA Video)
He spoke of the “perpetual hell” of not knowing what had happened.
Mr Faulding said after three unsuccessful days of looking in the water, he was “baffled”.
Search teams were focusing on the 10 miles or so of river downstream of the bench, where the River Wyre empties into the sea at Morecambe Bay.
– February 9
Lancashire Police was granted a dispersal order to break up groups of people reportedly filming in the village.
– February 10
Mr Ansell said the family was going through “unprecedented hell”, but that he would never give up hope of finding her.
Emma White, a friend of Ms Bulley, said the search for the missing woman in St Michael’s on Wyre had been “like torture”.
Meanwhile, police urged people to refrain from indulging in commentary and conspiracy theories online.
– February 12
Friends and family left yellow ribbons with handwritten messages on a bridge close to where she disappeared.
(Danny Lawson)
Ribbons with messages including “We need you home Nicola”, “praying for your safe return” and “I love you” were tied to a footbridge over the River Wyre.
A large poster with a photograph of Ms Bulley was also attached to the railings.
– February 13
Wyre Council removed councillors’ contact details from its website due to “inappropriate emails and phone calls” about Ms Bulley’s disappearance.
It also temporarily removed contact details for “parish and town council members”.
– February 14
Two people were arrested on suspicion of sending malicious communications.
– February 15
Police were set to hold a press conference about the ongoing search.
