Nicola Bulley latest — Former police officer says search teams ‘faced poor visibility and challenging conditions’
SEARCH teams in the Nicola Bulley investigation did the best job they could in challenging conditions and will be "gutted" she was not found sooner, a former police officer has said.
Former cop Graham Wettone said that conditions in the River Wyre would have been challenging and 's body would have moved during the time she was in the water.
He said he has spoken to underwater search experts who were supportive of what police and fire and rescue teams in did.
The veteran former Metropolitan Police officer, who was in the force for 30 years, said: "That was a really difficult search.
"Really challenging conditions, you wouldn't have been able to see much when you were underwater with the air tanks on, you'd have been almost doing it by touch, by feel. So it's a really challenging searching environment. And it's tidal, so it goes backwards and forwards. There'll be channels and crevices and gaps in the riverbank as you go along where things can get lodged."
Read our Nicola Bulley blog below for the latest updates...
Former chief constable claims police criticism has ‘not been justified’
Speaking to Sky News, the former chief constable, Sir Peter Fahy, claimed that the criticism was “not been justified” and has left a lot of officers “disillusioned”.
When asked why they released Nicola Bulley’s personal details he claimed this will be something that needs to be “justified” and there will be an inquest.
He said they were under “huge pressure” and is not sure why the police did not issue the details from the beginning.
Family could be waiting DAYS
Nicola’s family could be waiting days to find out if a body found in the river close to where she disappeared is the missing mum.
The body was pulled from the water a mile from where 45-year-old mum-of-two Nicola was last seen three weeks ago in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancs.
Nicola’s partner Paul Ansell said there are “no words right now, just agony”, after the discovery of a body just before noon yesterday.
It was spotted by two dog walkers around a mile from where Nicola was last seen.
Identification on-going as police find body
Police have said identification procedures are on-going after they found a body just one mile from where Nicola Bulley was last seen.
A statement released this afternoon said: "Procedures to identify the body are on-going.
"We are currently treating the death as unexplained.
"Nicola’s family have been informed of developments and our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times.
"We ask that their privacy is respected."
Breaking: Police to give press conference at 5:30pm
Lancashire Police will be giving a press conference this afternoon at 5:30pm.
This comes after a body was found near the scene Nicola vanished.
Police yesterday said no formal identification had been carried out so were unable to say whether the remains belong the mum-of-two.
In a statement today, Lancashire Police said that was still the case as "procedures to identify the body are ongoing".
Diving expert defends role in Nicola Bulley search
Peter Faulding, a diving expert who played a major role in the search for Nicola Bulley, has defended his role in the hunt.
This comes after an unidentified body was found in the water just a mile from where Nicola was last seen.
He told The Times: "I know I'm going to get canned for this but I don't care.
"The police search teams walked that river every day.
"We were only there for two and a half days using sonar and when we searched that part she was not laying at the bottom of that river."
Who to contact if you have information
Police are appealing to anyone who may have any information regarding the disappearance of Nicola Bulley.
Anybody with information is asked to call 101, quoting log 473.
BREAKING: Police need more time to identify body
Lancashire Police have said they will need more time to identify the body found just a mile from where Nicola Bulley vanished.
A police statement said: "Yesterday morning, Sunday, 19 February, you may be aware of police activity around the river near to St Michaels. We want to provide you with an update on that activity.
"We were called today at 11:36am to reports of a body in the River Wyre, close to Rawcliffe Road.
"An underwater search team and specialist officers have subsequently attended the scene, entered the water and have sadly recovered a body.
"No formal identification has yet been carried out, so we are unable to say whether this is Nicola Bulley at this time.
"Procedures to identify the body are on-going.
"We are currently treating the death as unexplained.
"Nicola’s family have been informed of developments and our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times. We ask that their privacy is respected."
Nicola's family will be asked to ID body found in search for missing mum
NICOLA Bulley's partner Paul Ansell or another close relative will be called in to identify the body found yesterday.
The remains were spotted yesterday morning by dog walkers who frantically phoned police - sparking a massive response.
But, as no formal identification had been carried out, police were unable to say whether the remains belonged to the mum-of-two.
However, that identification will have to take place.
As normal practice following a death, someone from Nicola's family will be asked to view the body.
Why is Nicola Bulley a high risk missing person?
Detectives revealed that Nicola was deemed high risk because she struggled with “vulnerabilities”, including “serious issues with alcohol”.
Police said these issues are understood to have been related to issues she had during the menopause due to information provided by her partner.
Police said: “We have described how Nicola had some vulnerabilities at the time she went missing and we just wanted to expand on that a little.
“Sadly, it is clear from speaking to Paul and the family that Nicola had in the past suffered with some significant issues with alcohol which were brought on by her ongoing struggles with the menopause and that these struggles had resurfaced over recent months. This caused some real challenges for Paul and the family.
“As a result of those issues, a response car staffed by both police and health professionals attended a report of concern for welfare at Nicola’s home address on January 10.
“No one has been arrested in relation to this incident, but it is being investigated.
“It is an unusual step for us to take to go into this level of detail about someone’s private life, but we felt it was important to clarify what we meant when we talked about vulnerabilities to avoid any further speculation or misinterpretation.”
Nicola's family may never have 'absolute certainty' over what happened
An ex-cop has said Nicola Bulley's family may never find "absolute certainty" over what happened to the missing mother of two.
Ex-Met Police commander John O’Connor said even DNA tests may not give all the answers.
He said: “It is unlikely anyone will ever know with absolute certainty what happened.”
Police set to hold press conference today
Police are set to hold a press conference this afternoon regarding the search for missing mother-of-two Nicola Bulley.
This comes just a day after a body was found near where Nicola vanished 24 days ago.
They have not outlined what information will be released.
Body identification expected
Lancashire Police has said that the body is yet to be formally identified and it is “unable to say whether this is Nicola Bulley at this time”.
The force added: “Procedures to identify the body are ongoing.
“We are currently treating the death as unexplained.
“Nicola’s family have been informed of developments and our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times.”
Chilling first words of witness on the scene
The chilling first words of the dog walker who found a body near the site Nicola Bulley vanished have been revealed.
The man was sat on a wall next to the River Wyre, Lancashire, when the discovery was made in the undergrowth - less than a mile from where the mum-of-two was last seen.
He appeared ashen-faced as he pointed out the area along the bank to police.
He was heard telling a first responder on the scene: “It was a body. It is down there.
"It was a body of a woman.
"There is definitely a body down there.”
The exact spot a body was found in the search for Nicola Bulley
A map has revealed the exact spot a body was found in the hunt for missing mum-of-two Nicola Bulley.
The remains were spotted yesterday morning by dog walkers who frantically phoned police - sparking a massive response.
Cops confirmed in the afternoon that a body had been found in the River Wyre, Lancashire.
But, as no formal identification had been carried out, they were unable to say whether the remains belonged to Nicola.
Former Chief Superintendent ‘cringed’ when police released details on private life
A former chief superintendent has claimed the detectives’ decision to disclose details of Nicola Bulley’s personal life was a move that made him “cringe” despite it being the “right” one.
Bob Eastwood told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “When I first heard the police had released that, I cringed, but I didn’t say anything, I didn’t put anything out on my own social media because I didn’t know the full facts and didn’t know why they had taken those steps.
“Some hours later the family gave a press release indicating they were aware the information was to be given out and they’d given the information out because somebody had sold a story to the press and that information was going to be given out as an exclusive.
“Knowing policing as I do, I suspect that they made that decision in order to prevent somebody releasing it in that way. It was unpleasant information to hear but I think in all the circumstances, from what I know and believe, I think the police were right to do so.”
Former chief constable claims police criticism has ‘not been justified’
Speaking to Sky News, the former chief constable, Sir Peter Fahy, claimed that the criticism was “not been justified” and has left a lot of officers “disillusioned”.
When asked why they released Nicola Bulley’s personal details he claimed this will be something that needs to be “justified” and there will be an inquest.
He said they were under “huge pressure” and is not sure why the police did not issue the details from the beginning.
Dive expert hits out at claims he offered services for 'publicity'
Dive expert Peter Faulding has claimed his team did not offer their services for "limelight or publicity".
The diving expert added: "I did not volunteer my services, my equipment or my team for any limelight or publicity.
"I simply wanted to lend extra resources to help a family in despair and this was supported by Lancashire Police.
"However, there has been unprecedented media and public interest in this case and at every turn, I was asked for an update on my own search, which I provided with only best intentions.
"Support for my assistance and my actions have been overwhelmingly positive although I am aware of that some negativity has been towards myself and my team."
Same stretch of river had previously been searched
The same stretch of river where a body was found yesterday had previously been searched by diving expert Peter Faulding.
Following his team’s extensive search of the river, he said: “If I can’t find them, it means they’re not there.”
He added: “The area where Nicola went in was searched thoroughly by very professional police divers on the day – very thoroughly – and she was not there, which leads me to believe that she is not in that river.”
Police 'don’t have to respond to TikTok detectives'
The co-founder of a social justice organisation has said it is "sad" to see social media aspects "dictate Lancashire Police’s theories".
Speaking to Sky News this morning, Reclaim These Streets co-founder Jamie Klinger said it was “sad that social media aspects seem to dictate Lancashire Police’s theories and the way they were dealing with it, rather than the other way around.
“They don’t have to respond to TikTok detectives. They really needed to do their investigation independently.”
Suella Braverman 'not wholly satisfied'
This morning the Home Secretary claimed she was not "wholly satisfied"with their justification for releasing Nicola's personal details.
Ms Braverman met with Lancashire Police's chief constable to ask why the force revealed Nicola had issues with drinking, which had been “brought on by her ongoing struggles with the menopause”.
"I want to put on record my deepest thoughts and sympathies for the family of Nicola Bulley, it must be a horrendous experience that they are going through right now," Ms Braverman said.
"We need to let the police carry out and conclude their investigation. I did have concerns earlier in the week about some of the elements relating to the release of personal information of Nicola Bulley into the public domain.
"I raised those concerns with the chief constable - I wasn't wholly satisfied, I have to say, with some of the responses I got but it is a matter for the police themselves.
"We must just let the investigation conclude, and then we will see what the investigations and inquiries come back with."
Police say body found in river is ‘unexplained’
Police are treating the body found in the river Wyre yesterday as “unexplained.”
A statement said: “Procedures to identify the body are on-going.
“We are currently treating the death as unexplained.”
Officers defended release of personal details
Officers have defended their decision to release personal information about Nicola after being slammed by MPs and former cops.
Home Secretary has ordered the force to explain why the details were revealed and police have now referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
When was Nicola last seen?
Nicola was last seen on January 27 after dropping her two girls off at school.
The mortgage advisor took her dog Willow for a walk along the river - which had been extensively searched.
Police maintained their main theory has always been that Nicola had gone into the water.
Witness recalls police cars 'flying down the road' after body discovery
A witness told : "I noticed a man and a woman and two police officers on the embankment.
"I heard the man talking to police about something in the undergrowth.
"Police cars were flying down the road with the blues and twos going.
"A police officer pulled up a few minutes later and got his drone out.
"Five minutes later the helicopter arrived. Officers asked to me get out so I moved 200 yards down the road."
Charity calls on anyone affected by Nicola Bulley’s disappearance to contact them
UK-based charity Missing People has shared a statement of support for anyone affected by Nicola Bulley’s disappearance.
The statement read: “The impact of a disappearance is vast and can affect so many people.
“170,000 people are reported missing each year in the UK. Every disappearance is a crisis and can be a matter of life or death.
“Families of a missing person live with unimaginable trauma – a profound loss, loneliness, and uncertainty called ‘ambiguous loss’. The effects can be similar to experiencing PTSD.”
The charity said it has several resources to help those impacted.
“The charity has digital resources, advice and a Helpline (116 000) for anyone affected by a disappearance.
“We are here in confidence for missing people and those that miss them. Our amazing team provide specialist, non-judgemental support, for free.”