Nicola Bulley police

Officials searching for 45-year-old Nicola Bulley have been handed a “stained glove” from a field near where she was last seen on 27 January.

There’s a feeling that there’s just a lack of imagination and willpower. “I’m not saying it hasn’t been done, but it needs to be extremely thoroughly searched. Obviously, he’s ripping himself to pieces at the moment. He just wants answers. We just want her home. “We need to know what’s happened to her.

On Wednesday morning, Lancashire Police announced they would be holding a news conference about the disappearance of the mother-of-two.

This isn't an update. [February 15, 2023]

The "high-risk" missing mother vanished on a riverside dog walk in Lancashire almost three weeks ago.

He said the force had decided to share more details in the press conference "than would normally be the case" to counter some of "the ill-informed speculation and conjecture". "The derelict house which is across the other side of the river has been searched three times, with the permission of the owner, and Nicola is not in there," she said. However, she said she could not be "100% certain of that at the minute" as it was a "live investigation" and there was "always information coming in". She said in her 29 years of police service she had not seen "anything like it" and described "persistent myths" about the case. She added Ms Bulley was graded as high risk "following the information that was provided to the police by her partner Paul and based on a number of specific vulnerabilities that we were made aware of". But she added this was "normal in a missing person investigation with the information we were in possession of".

Lancashire Police Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson defended his force's investigation into the case of Nicola Bulley at a press conference this morning.

But she said all the evidence suggested that Ms Bulley went down to the river and did not return. The search for the missing woman was extended to downstream from St Michael's on Wyre to where it empties into Morecambe Bay and the open sea on 3 February. Asked if she hoped to find Ms Bulley alive, Det Supt Smith said: "I hope with all my heart that we find Nicola Bulley alive more than anything". But online amateur sleuths and social media video-makers have "distracted significantly" from official efforts to find her, police said. "But those vulnerabilities based our decision-making in terms of grading Nicola as high-risk, and have continued to form part of my investigation throughout." Senior officers were at pains to stress they did not believe anyone had attacked or abducted Ms Bulley, that they believe she had gone into the water without anyone else being involved, and to quash the "persistent myths" around the case.

Lancashire Police said officers have been 'inundated with false information' from TikTokers 'playing private detective'

It is not Nicola’s, but we have got that in our possession.” “The red van… “In terms of the glove that has been recovered, you’ll no doubt be aware that TikTokers have been playing their own private detectives and have been in the area,” she said.

Force says it has been 'inundated' with false information about missing 45-year-old.

Police have carried out a search of the land surrounding the place Bulley was last seen, including 300 buildings, using search teams and trained counter-terrorist officers. The “working hypothesis” of police is that the 45-year-old fell into the River Wyre while walking her dog. Whatever has happened, in my eyes, has to be somebody who knows the local area. In an interview with Channel 5 on Friday, he said: “Extensive searching, as you’re probably aware, has gone on in that river. But I think it’s also really obvious that we are being inundated with false information, accusations and rumours, which is distracting us from our work.” This caused some real challenges for Paul and the family.

Lancashire Police Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith said officers were being distracted by 'false information, accusations and rumours'

She also added that there is “further work” that officers are doing on Ms Bulley’s social media accounts. The force said her disappearance was not being treated as suspicious. [Lancashire Police](/topic/lancashire-police) again insisted there is “no evidence to indicate a criminal aspect or third party involvement” in the search for the missing mum of two. Something has happened. So something has happened. Ms Smith clarified that her main “working hypothesis” at the time was that Ms Bulley disappeared into the river but that the force was open-minded.

Nearly 40 detectives have sifted through hundreds of hours of CCTV, dashcam footage and tip-offs from the public.

But she said all the evidence suggested that Ms Bulley went down to the river and did not return. The search for the missing woman was extended to downstream from St Michael’s on Wyre to where it empties into Morecambe Bay and the open sea on February 3. Asked if she hoped to find Ms Bulley alive, Det Supt Smith said: “I hope with all my heart that we find Nicola Bulley alive more than anything”. But online amateur sleuths and social media video-makers have “distracted significantly” from official efforts to find her, police said. “But those vulnerabilities based our decision-making in terms of grading Nicola as high-risk, and have continued to form part of my investigation throughout.” Senior officers were at pains to stress they did not believe anyone had attacked or abducted Ms Bulley, that they believe she had gone into the water without anyone else being involved, and to quash the “persistent myths” around the case.

Lancashire Police have said it remains their 'main working hypothesis' that Nicola fell in the River Wyre, but extensive searches and investigations are ...

Reiterating that there was no evidence to suggest that a crime had been committed, police stressed that they are "meticulously reviewing all the information" gathered so far in the case as investigations continue. Police said that their focus remains on providing answers for Nicola's family, including her partner Paul Ansell and their two children, aged six and nine. Saying that it remains her main working hypothesis that mum-of-two fell into the river, Supt Smith said: "We are being inundated with false information, accusations and rumours which is distracting us from our work." Specialist resources have been used on both land and water, as the search along the River Wyre continues. Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson said: "It remains the case there is no evidence to indicate a criminal aspect or third-party involvement in Nicola's disappearance. Nicola has not been seen since going out for a walk with her dog Willow in St Michael's on Wyre on the morning of January 27, after dropping her two daughters off at school.

The police officer in charge of the investigation into the disappearance of Nicola Bulley has revealed she was a "high risk" and had "specific ...

They also revealed 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. Later clarifying what they meant by "vulnerabilities" the police said that having spoken to her partner, Paul, it was clear Nicola suffered "significant issues with alcohol which were brought on by her ongoing struggles with the menopause". Ms Bulley, 45, disappeared while walking her springer spaniel Willow in the village of St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, after she dropped off her two daughters - aged six and nine - at school on January 27.

A shocking decision when the police's treatment of women is rightly in the spotlight, said Silkie Carlo, director of privacy campaign group Big Brother ...

A later statement on the force website said: “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. “The police need to be much clearer as to why any of this helps find Nicola Bulley or support this investigation.” “The ramifications of this invasion of medical privacy could be really serious, including for Nicola’s safety.”

Lancashire Police released a statement saying Ms Bulley had suffered "significant issues" with alcohol brought on by her "struggles with the menopause" ...

"The police need to be much clearer as to why any of this helps find Nicola Bulley or support this investigation." He said: "Particularly since they say it was a police car with police and health professionals, the subtext of that is that this was a mental health car. [press conference](https://news.sky.com/story/nicola-bulley-update-live-police-share-more-detail-than-normal-to-counter-speculation-as-they-explain-their-three-theories-12811497), Lancashire Police subsequently [released a statement](https://news.sky.com/story/nicola-bulley-missing-mother-of-two-had-significant-issues-with-alcohol-and-menopause-struggles-police-12811885) saying: "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." "It's a big move to take but if you aren't going to take it at the start of the investigation, why do it now?" [Martyn Underhill](https://news.sky.com/story/armchair-detectives-in-cases-like-nicola-bulleys-could-be-crucial-but-must-be-managed-ex-detective-warns-12810006) told Sky News that he had never "seen such a level of detail" released in a missing persons case and added that one had to ask why officers were [releasing it now.](https://news.sky.com/story/nicola-bulley-missing-mother-of-two-had-significant-issues-with-alcohol-and-menopause-struggles-police-12811885) Lancashire Police released a statement saying Ms Bulley had suffered "significant issues" with alcohol brought on by her "struggles with the menopause" after initially refusing to confirm why she was classed as high risk and vulnerable.

Police investigating the disappearance of Nicola Bulley have been criticised for revealing personal details about the missing mum.

[Conservative MP Alicia Kearns said on Twitter](https://twitter.com/aliciakearns/status/1625934789856436225) that she was "deeply uncomfortable with the police releasing Nicola Bulley's so-called 'vulnerabilities' on menopause and alcohol" and was struggling to "ascertain how this will assist police in their search and investigations". [Labour's Stella Creasy tweeted](https://twitter.com/stellacreasy/status/1625919564797050885) that the level of detail was "deeply troubling" and the force needed to be "much clearer as to why any of this helps find Nicola Bulley". It said it had been "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". [told the press conference on Wednesday](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-64646582) that Ms Bulley had been categorised as high-risk as soon as she was reported missing "following the information that was provided to the police by her partner and based on a number of specific vulnerabilities that we were made aware of". [Silkie Carlo, a director of privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch, said](https://twitter.com/silkiecarlo/status/1625954345161302016) the "ramifications of this invasion of medical privacy could be really serious", while [former chief prosecutor Nazir Afzal said](https://twitter.com/nazirafzal/status/1625986277320413184) the statement should not have been issued, as it did nothing to help find Ms Bulley, and added that the release would "give fuel to the victim blamers, armchair sleuths and conspiracy theorists". [a press conference on Wednesday](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-64646582), in which the officer leading the investigation into Ms Bulley's disappearance revealed she had "a number of specific vulnerabilities", the force said she had "suffered with some significant issues with alcohol which were brought on by her ongoing struggles with the menopause [which had] resurfaced over recent months". The force later issued an update, stating that it "just wanted to expand on that a little". She said Lancashire's chief constable or police and crime commissioner should "give the public some reassurance that the force is managing this whole issue in the right way". "People are asking rightly how does the reproductive status of a woman who has gone missing relate to the bid to find her and would that same information be put in the public domain if she were a man." [told Sky News](https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1626133064156954626) the release of such details was "very unusual", adding: "I do have a lot of questions and concerns about that. ["ongoing struggles with the menopause"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-64656669). On Wednesday, Lancashire Police said the 45-year-old had suffered with "some significant issues with alcohol" and

Labour's Stella Creasy among those questioning why Lancashire police told public of 'issues with alcohol'

[said](https://twitter.com/nazirafzal/status/1625986277320413184) the detail should not have been released and did nothing to help find Bulley. This caused some real challenges for Paul and the family. A shocking decision when the police’s treatment of women is rightly in the spotlight.” She said it seemed to be “aimed at shoring up public support for Lancashire police’s own foregone conclusions. Zoë Billingham, a former inspector of constabulary, said: “I’m deeply troubled that such sensitive information has been released by the force at this stage. I struggle to ascertain how this will assist police in their search and investigations.

Officers said on Wednesday Ms Bulley was 'vulnerable' and classed by police as a 'high-risk' missing person immediately after she disappeared.

The decision to disclose this level of detail on a missing person's private life, with no evidence that this is assisting in finding her, is deeply troubling. It’s not at all clear how the police are justifying this disclosure, which seems to be aimed at shoring up public support for Lancashire Police’s own forgone conclusions. The police need to be much clearer as to why any of this helps find Nicola Bulley or support this investigation. “The police need to be much clearer as to why any of this helps find Nicola Bulley or support this investigation.” Meanwhile, Stella Creasy, Labour MP for Walthamstow, said: “The decision to disclose this level of detail on a missing person’s private life, with no evidence that this is assisting in finding her, is deeply troubling. “It’s not at all clear how the police are justifying this disclosure, which seems to be aimed at shoring up public support for Lancashire Police’s own forgone conclusions.

DETECTIVES investigating the disappearance of Nicola Bulley may face a probe by the police watchdog.The Independent Office for Police Conduct today sa.

"We all need you home. [Paul Ansell](https://www.thesun.ie/news/10167002/who-is-nicola-bulleys-partner-paul-ansell/), meant she was classified as a [high risk missing person](https://www.thesun.ie/news/10230214/nicola-bulley-high-risk-missing-person/). ["destroy" Nicola's reputation](https://www.thesun.ie/news/10234539/nicola-bulley-cops-blasted-sharing-vulnerable-alcohol/). [significant issues with alcohol](https://www.thesun.ie/news/10232500/nicola-bulley-police-vulnerabilities-high-risk/)" as a result of menopause which had recently resurfaced. [Paul Ansell](https://www.thesun.ie/news/10167002/who-is-nicola-bulleys-partner-paul-ansell/), meant she was classified as a [high-risk missing person](https://www.thesun.ie/news/10230214/nicola-bulley-high-risk-missing-person/) with several "vulnerabilities". [Fern Britton](https://www.thesun.ie/who/fern-britton/), 65, said in a tweet: "I am uncomfortable with the latest news suggesting that Nicola Bulley has an issue with alcohol and menopause. [desperate to bring her home](https://www.thesun.ie/news/10236976/nicola-bulleys-family-heartbreaking-plea-missing-mum/) so she can give her children a "cuddle". [called to the family's home](https://www.thesun.ie/news/10232578/nicola-bulley-police-called-family-home/) after "a report of concern for welfare" on January 10. [significant issues with alcohol](https://www.thesun.ie/news/10232500/nicola-bulley-police-vulnerabilities-high-risk/)" as a result of menopause. "As we approach the three-week anniversary of her going missing, we remain committed to doing everything we can to find her." [Nicola](https://www.thesun.ie/who/nicola-bulley/) was last seen close to the River Wyre on January 27 with her springer spaniel Willow.

What has happened to Nicola Bulley? What was the glove that was found? Here's the latest theories and evidence in the missing mum of two case.

They are treating the case as a missing person inquiry and do not believe it was suspicious. Supt Rebecca Smith said they've found no "criminal aspect or third party involvement" evidence so far. Here's the latest leads in the heartbreaking Nicola Bulley case including a "stained" glove and a "tatty' red van.

Yet again, damage is being done to women's trust in the authorities.

Many have wondered whether the police disclosed this information as part of damage limitation, a way to quieten speculation and shore up public support. Just this week news reports said that police believed the head teacher Emma Pattison’s husband, who murdered her and their daughter then killed himself, may have been “jealous” of her success and felt he was “living in her shadow”. The poem is a damning indictment of our most morbid curiosities, and the voyeurism of a “million filaments” who come to gawp at this “smiling woman” eerily echoes the current obsession with the disappearance of Nicola Bulley.