Police watchdogs have launched an investigation into a welfare check on Nicola Bulley carried out days before she was last seen – as it emerged that the force tasked with finding her will be subject to a full investigation.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct says it will assess the actions of officers on January 10 this year after Lancashire Police referred itself to the regulator last week. The force said it sent a car to Ms Bulley's home in Inskip, four miles from where she went missing, to carry out a welfare check that day.
Officers have since revealed that Ms Bulley, whose body was recovered from the River Wyre on Sunday after more than three weeks of searching, had a set of "vulnerabilities" that had classed her as a "high risk" individual. These were later disclosed as problems with alcohol and hormone replacement therapy she was taking to deal with the effects of menopause – a revelation that prompted furious criticism of the force.
The IOPC confirmed it had launched an investigation into the contact Lancashire Police had with Ms Bulley on January 10, 17 days before she went missing in St Michael's on Wyre as she walked family springer spaniel Willow. A spokesperson said: "Following a referral by Lancashire Constabulary on Thursday, we have started an independent investigation regarding contact the force had with Nicola Bulley on January 10 2023.
"We were notified by the force that an officer attended the family home on that date as part of a welfare check. Our thoughts are with Ms Bulley's family and friends, and all of those affected by her death. Our investigation is in its very early stages."
Less than an hour later on Wednesday, Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden confirmed he had asked the College of Policing to carry out a "full, independent review" into the handling of the Nicola Bulley case. In a statement Mr Snowden said the force had questions to answer about how the investigation had unfolded.
He 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. In my role as commissioner, as the public's voice in policing in Lancashire, I also need to put in place the appropriate scrutiny to seek the right assurances and to ensure I am effectively holding the Constabulary to account.
"I have therefore taken the decision to commission a full independent review into the handling of this case, with clearly defined terms of reference, to 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."
Lancashire Police has said it “welcomes the independent review that the Police and Crime Commissioner has asked the College of Policing to conduct” into its handling of the Nicola Bulley case. In the meantime, England's authority on information has contacted Lancashire Police to get more information on the circumstances behind the disclosure of Ms Bulley's vulnerabilities.
The Information Commissioner's Office said: "We have made initial enquiries with Lancashire Police to understand the reasoning which led to the disclosure of Ms Bulley's information. We will assess the information provided to consider whether any further action is necessary."
Ms Bulley was last seen walking her dog at around 9.10am on January 27 in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire. Around half an hour later her mobile phone was discovered on a park bench at the edge of the River Wyre, still connected to a Microsoft Teams work call, while Willow was running free.
An intensive search effort making use of boats, dogs, drones and helicopters was carried out over the next three weeks, covering the length of the Wyre down to Morecambe Bay at the coast, where the stream feeds into the Irish Sea. Tragically, Nicola's body was discovered among scrub and bushes in the river around a mile from where she had last been seen.
Ms Bulley was positively identified as the body recovered from the River Wyre on Monday. In a press conference on February 20, Lancashire Police described the investigation as "hugely complex and highly emotional".
However, the force did not address the widespread criticism it had received for releasing some aspects of Ms Bulley's private life into the public domain. Police also did not disclose why it took 23 days to find her body in the river.
The discovery brought to an end weeks of speculation over her fate. Ms Bulley's disappearance had captured the attention of people who travelled from far and wide to leave messages of support – and to film seemingly insidious videos about the case.
Baseless and at times harmful speculation shared by armchair detectives on the likes of TikTok prompted criticism from politicians, police and Ms Bulley's own family, who called for such the creation of such content and the offer to sell stories about Ms Bulley to "stop". Ms Bulley's family said in a statement on Monday that they can let her "rest now" following the discovery of her remains.
An inquest into her death began on Wednesday at Lancashire Coroner's Court. The hearing, which was not attended by Ms Bulley's family, was told that the 45-year-old mum-of-two was identified by her dental records.
Dr James Adeley, senior conorner, said that an expert in facial reconstructive surgery had examined the body. He added: "I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities, and more, that positive identification has been made."
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