Lead Nicola Bulley detective is absent from press conference amid fury at ‘farcical’ Lancashire Police
The detective leading the search for missing Nicola Bulley was today absent from the press conference where under-fire Lancashire Police confirmed that the body pulled from the river yesterday was the mother-of-two.
Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith criticised social media for ‘distracting the investigation’ as the force came under fire after it took them 24 days to find remains in the reeds of the Wyre less than a mile from where mortgage advisor Ms Bulley was last seen.
Lancashire Police: ‘Today’s development is not the outcome any of us would have wanted’
Lancashire Police today confirmed the body recovered from the River Wyre yesterday is that of Nicola Bulley.
The force stated: ‘Today’s development is not the outcome any of us would have wanted.’
The case is now being handled by the coroner.
A statement from the family strongly criticised accusations against Ms Bulley’s partner made by members of the public.
It added: ‘Finally, Nikki, you are no longer a missing person, you have been found, we can let you rest now.
‘We love you, always have and always will, we’ll take it from here xx 💛’
Family’s heartache: ‘Our worst fears have been confirmed’
In a statement released just now, Nicola Bulley’s family said: ‘Our Family Liaison officers have had to confirm our worst fears today.
‘We will never be able to comprehend what Nikki had gone through in her last moments and that will never leave us.
‘We will never forget Nikki, how could we, she was the centre of our world, she was the one who made our lives so special and nothing will cast a shadow over that.
‘Our girls will get the support they need from the people who love them the most.
‘Our hearts truly break for others who have missing loved ones. Keep that hope alive.
‘Finally, Nikki, you are no longer a missing person, you have been found, we can let you rest now.
‘We love you, always have and always will, we’ll take it from here xx 💛’
Police have confirmed the body found yesterday is that of missing mother Nicola Bulley
A body found in a river has been identified as missing mother-of-two Nicola Bulley, police have said.
The body was found on Sunday morning in the River Wyre in Lancashire, around a mile from where the 45-year-old mortgage adviser was last seen.
She had been walking her dog in St Michael’s on Wyre after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school on January 27.
Ms Bulley’s family were informed following the discovery of the body and while Lancashire Police began identification procedures.
Revealed: ‘Psychic’ who found body in the hunt for Nicola Bulley
A spiritual medium found the body believed to be missing mother-of-two Nicola Bulley.
Jason Rothwell, 33, was seen in pictures pointing to the waters where Lancashire Police massed yesterday afternoon.
He and his friend, which MailOnline have cross-referenced to his social media presence, spoke to police who later retrieved the body.
No10 refuses to comment on possible external review of Lancashire Police
Downing Street declined to comment on the possibility of an independent external review of Lancashire Police and its handling of the Nicola Bulley case.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘You have heard the concerns of the Prime Minister before.
‘He welcomed the fact there was an internal investigation, I think the first step is to allow that to take place and see what the findings are, so I am not going to comment before that.
‘We think it is appropriate that this investigation is taking place. We will wait and see what the findings of that are before commenting further on the investigation, given it is a live case.’
Lancashire Police to hold press conference at 5.30pm
Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson, of Lancashire Police, is set to hold a press conference at 5.30pm as part of the Nicola Bulley missing person investigation.
Nicola Bulley cops say they need more time to identify body pulled from river
Police investigating the disappearance of Nicola Bulley say they need more time to identify a body pulled from the river.
Lancashire Police today said in a statement that procedures to identify the body are ongoing, and as no formal identification has yet been carried out, they are ‘unable to say whether this is Nicola Bulley at this time’.
The body was discovered in the reeds of the Wyre by two walkers yesterday morning – less than a mile from where she disappeared three weeks ago.
The latest pictures from the scene today
Home Secretary piles more pressure on Lancashire Police
Fury at ‘farcical’ Lancashire Police
Under-fire Lancashire Police said in a tweet how they would show the probe’s senior investigating officer a Lego figure made in her likeness during the search for missing Nicola Bulley.
Less than two days after Det Supt Rebecca Smith had slated social media for ‘distracting the investigation’, force staff admired the toy lookalike of her in a Twitter post.
The minifigure – the name given to the plastic articulated figurines – showed a long haired, black dressed model that certainly resembled the senior officer.
Suella Braverman ‘not satisfied’ on why police released private details
Suella Braverman today piled more pressure on Lancashire Police by revealing that she was not ‘wholly satisfied’ with their explanation for revealing Nicola Bulley battled alcohol problems and the menopause.
The Home Secretary is in the North-West today and said that Lancashire’s Chief Constable Chris Rowley had failed to properly answer her questions.
Detectives have faced a chorus of criticism for releasing highly personal information about the missing mother-of-two from St Michael’s on Wyre was struggling with the menopause and battling an alcohol problem.
Fury at TikTok ghouls who filmed police as body was recovered
TikTok ghouls – who at one point were banned from the Nicola Bulley search area – recorded sickening footage of something being retrieved from the riverside yesterday.
One appalling film has been viewed 1.9million time and are among 19 clips posted on the social media site by the same person.
The user has hidden their identity and uses a picture of Ms Bulley’s partner Paul Ansell as their profile image.