Nicola Bulley: Home secretary asks police to explain health disclosures

The home secretary has raised concerns with police after they revealed personal information about missing mother Nicola Bulley.

The 45-year-old disappeared on 27 January during a riverside dog walk in St Michael's on Wyre in Lancashire.

Lancashire Police, who have been searching for her for three weeks, were criticised for making her struggles with alcohol and the menopause public.

A source close to Suella Braverman said she had "asked for an explanation".

They said the home secretary had received a response on Thursday evening but was not wholly satisfied with the force's justification for releasing the personal details.

However, an aide stressed the decision was a matter for Lancashire Police.

Dame Vera Baird, the former victims' commissioner for England and Wales, told BBC Radio 4's Today that the force had been subject to "heavy, and in my view, totally justified criticism".

"If it was relevant, it needed to be in a public domain at the start, and it wasn't," she said.

"I'm afraid this is the biggest error that I have seen for quite a long time.

"It's going to undermine trust in the police yet further."

She said she did not believe similar comments would have been shared if Ms Bulley had been a man.

"Would we have had police officers saying... he's been unfortunately tied down with alcohol because he's been suffering from erectile dysfunction for the last few weeks? I think not.

"No, it is a dreadful error to put this in the public domain for absolutely nothing and I'm afraid I think it's as sexist as it comes."

The Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley told LBC's Nick Ferrari it would be a "rare thing" for his force to comment about the vulnerabilities of a woman in a high-profile missing person case, but declined to say if he would have told the public of Ms Bulley's struggles because he did not have "all the facts to hand".

"We need to release the information that helps find somebody and Lancashire have made that call and time will tell whether they have got it right or wrong," he said.

He added that the Met would be ready to help the investigation into Ms Bulley's disappearance, if asked.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Lancashire Police said Ms Bulley had suffered with "some significant issues with alcohol" and "ongoing struggles with the menopause".

This prompted a backlash from campaigners, MPs and legal experts, with some accusing the police of breaching her privacy.

Ms Bulley's family later released a statement released via the police, in which they elaborated on her health, saying she had suffered significant side effects due to the perimenopause, including "brain fog" and "restless sleep".

They also asked for speculation surrounding her private life to end and urged the public to focus on finding their "wonderful daughter, sister, partner and mother".

Addressing Ms Bulley directly, they added: "Nikki, we hope you are reading this and know that we love you so much and your girls want a cuddle. We all need you home.

"Don't be scared, we all love you so very much."

Wyre Council leader Michael Vincent said the case was "clearly unprecedented" and it was "right there is an inquiry into the way the police have handled this, but from my understanding, their handling of the actual investigation has been very good".

"They've been in regular contact with the family who are the people who actually need the information," he added.

Lancashire Police said it had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over contact it had had with Ms Bulley before she vanished.

It said it had been called to a report of "concern for welfare" on 10 January when officers and health professionals visited her home. No arrests were made.

The force said the referral only related to the force's interaction with the family on that date and not the wider missing person investigation.

The IOPC said it was assessing the available information to determine whether an investigation was required.

Ms Bulley disappeared while walking her springer spaniel, Willow, after dropping off her two daughters at school.

Her phone was found still connected to a work conference call.

Police and specialist teams have since mounted a huge search, but no trace of her has been found.

Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Andrew Snowden, said the investigation was under the direction and control of Chief Constable Chris Rowley and the force was being as transparent as it could be on such an "incredibly sensitive and complex case".

"The unprecedented media and public interest in this case, whilst welcomed for appeals for information, is challenging for the family and friends of Nicola and the officers and police staff dealing with unsubstantiated rumours and speculation on a daily basis," he said.

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