Lancashire police say there is still 'no evidence' missing Nicola Bulley is criminal investigation
Lancashire Police said there is still "no evidence" of a third party involvement or a criminal aspect in Nicola Bulley's disappearance.
Senior officers added Ms Bulley was “vulnerable” and classed as a “high-risk” missing person immediately after her partner reported her disappearance, which had informed their decision making process.
Ms Bulley disappeared while walking her springer spaniel Willow in the village of St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, after she dropped her two daughters – aged six and nine – at school on 27 January.
A search involving specialist officers was launched within an hour of her partner Paul Ansell speaking to officers, and she was deemed “high-risk” based on the information he had given them about the 45-year-old.
Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith, the lead investigator for Lancashire Police in the case, told reporters at a packed press conference at force HQ: “As soon as she was reported missing, 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, Nicola was graded as high-risk.
“It’s normal in any missing person investigation that you obviously gather as much information at an early stage about the person in question, which is no different, and we did that with Paul.
“I’m not going to go into the details of those individual vulnerabilities. I’ve asked you to respect the family, who are going through unimaginable pain and distress at this moment.
“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.”
Alongside Ms Smith, Lancashire Police Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson defended his force’s investigation into the case of the missing mother-of-two.
Setting out the details of the probe in more detail than police “normally” would, he said the scale has been “unprecedented”.
He said: "She and her family remain foremost in our thoughts.
"I am acutely aware there is media speculation and some criticism of our police investigation.
"It remains the case there is no evidence to indicate a criminal aspect or third party interference in Nicola's disappearance.
"Our activity has been directed by national police experts."
Speaking about Ms Bulley's "individual vulnerabilities", Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith, the lead investigator in the Nicola Bulley case, refused to give more details.
She told a press conference: “It’s normal in any missing person investigation that you obviously gather as much information at an early stage about the person in question, which is no different and we did that with Paul [Ms Bulley’s partner Paul Ansell].
“I’m not going to go into the details of those individual vulnerabilities. I’ve asked you to respect the family, who are going through unimaginable pain and distress at this moment.
“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.”
Asked if she hoped to find her alive, Det Supt Smith said: “I hope with all my heart that we find Nicola Bulley alive more than anything.”
Lancashire Police say the 40 detectives working on the case have:
Visited 300 premises
Spoken to 300 people
Received 1,500 pieces of information
Identified 700 vehicles
50 dashcam submissions received
In a statement, Lancashire Police said: "We carried out a search of the land in the immediate vicinity of the area where Nicola was last seen.
"This consisted of police search teams with trained Counter Terrorist Officers carrying out extensive area searches. They were joined by police dogs and drones.
"Fire and Rescue dogs and Firefighters were on the ground assisting the search efforts, as well as 24 Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue volunteers.
"The National Police Air Service helicopter was deployed to search the area. Wyreside Farm caravan site and the caravans were searched, as well as the abandoned house identified.
"All searches carried out followed the nationally established search procedures.
"Our search of the river included an intense search around the bench location, using sonar, underwater cameras and police divers.
"We were also joined by SGI and Fire Service, who deployed their underwater drone ROV and pole cameras.
"This search was conducted down to the weir. Cumbria Police specialist search dogs joined the search too. Below the weir Police Officers, Firefighters and Mountain Rescue carried out surface searches downstream towards Great Eccleston."
They added: "The Fire Service boat was deployed along with assistance from Lancaster Search and Rescue volunteers.
"Police divers waded the weir, with the PAS helicopter covering the length of the river."
"We continued expanding the search further to the sea following expert advice from the Environment Agency, academics and government oceanographer.
"Sonar was used continually down the river as far as Cartford Bridge, where a tidal stretch starts. Defence science and technology laboratory have assisted with these searches too.
"From Cartford to the coast HM Coastguard, Police Marine Units, Police Dogs, West Cumbria Search and Rescue and volunteers from Specialist Search Dogs carried out continued searches.
"They were supported by Fleetwood Inshore Lifeboat Maritime Volunteer Service
"Morecambe Bay has been also searched with the same level of intensity. The search area included various support from HM Coastguard, Bay Search and Rescue, NPAS, police drones, NW Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authority."
Police issued a new timeline of the day Nicola disappeared.
There has been a lot of online commentary speculating about what happened to Nicola.
Det. Supt. Rebecca Smith said: "TikTokkers” and “wannabe detectives” are a hindrance and distraction to the investigation.
She added: "In my 29 years working for the police service, I have never seen anything like it."Lancashire police has previously stated: “We continue to see hurtful abuse of innocent people, including witnesses and local businesses.
“There is also a huge amount of commentary from so-called experts and conspiracy theories which are damaging to the investigation and, worst of all, to Nicola’s family.
“It must stop.”
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