Nicola Bulley: Cops to be probed by police watchdog over welfare check 17 days before she went missing
INSKIP, LANCASHIRE: The policing watchdog has opened an investigation into Nicola Bulley's welfare check, which was done just 17 days before she vanished. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) 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 Bulley’s family and friends, and all of those affected by her death. Our investigation is in its very early stages," the Daily Mail reported.
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'A full independent review'
Besides this investigation, the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire has confirmed his intention to commission an independent review into Lancashire Police’s handling of the Nicola Bulley case. “The public understandably feels 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 needs to be answered and explained," Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden said in a statement.
In a part of the statement, he added, “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."
'Intrusion into the privacy of Nicola's family'
Snowden added that he had spoken to the chief executive of the College of Policing and met with the chief officer team of Lancashire Constabulary to outline the scope and nature of the review. He continued, "Given the amount of misinformation on social media, poorly-informed opinions given national airtime, the attacks on senior leaders' personal appearance and family lives, along with the intrusion into the privacy of Nicola's family, it is important that a professional, thorough and informed review is undertaken by a national independent body, with the right skills and resources, understanding of the current standards and access to the investigation information."
'I am sure there will be lessons to be learned'
He added further, "I am sure there will be lessons to be learned for Lancashire Constabulary, the broader policing sector, and others from this case, as there are from most major investigations, and I will keep the public informed of the findings in due course."
In an effort to support their theory that Nicola fell into the river, authorities released some personal details about her during a news conference earlier last week. They suggested that Nicola had "specific vulnerabilities", including "significant problems with alcohol" brought on by ongoing menopause.
After getting slammed for relating the personal information, the investigators came clear stating "it was 'important to clarify what we meant when we talked about vulnerabilities to avoid any further speculation or misinterpretation".
Lancashire Police said, it "welcomes the independent review that the Police and Crime Commissioner has asked the College of Policing to conduct." Adding, "Our thoughts remain foremost with Nicola's family at this time."
Meanwhile, the report mentioned that the Information Commissioner's Office has made initial inquiries with Lancashire Police to understand "the reasoning which led to the disclosure" of the personal information. In a statement, a spokesperson said, "We have made initial inquiries with Lancashire Police to understand the reasoning which led to the disclosure of Bulley's information. We will assess the information provided to consider whether any further action is necessary."
It follows the revelation that dental data were used to identify Bulley when the inquest into her death was opened on Wednesday. Bulley’s body was pulled from the River Wyre in Lancashire on Sunday after the 45-year-old was last seen on January 27. She had been walking her dog in St Michael’s on Wyre after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school.