The inquest into the death of Nicola Bulley will begin later today.
the 45 year old She disappeared on January 27 this year, after dropping her children off at school and then taking her usual dog walk along the River Wyre at St Michael’s on Wyre in Lancashire.
After another walker found his dog loose, the alarm was raised that Nicola was missing. Police confirmed that his phone was still connected to a work Teams call, on a bench overlooking the river.
The mortgage broker was immediately deemed a “high risk” missing person, prompting a massive police search operation, hundreds of local search volunteers, and intense media and public interest. His family also called in private underwater search specialists amid a conspiracy frenzy on social media that fueled waves of tourists and content creators visiting the scene.
His body was found in the river about a mile below the bank on February 19. Police had urged people not to speculate about the disappearance and maintained from the outset that there were no suspicious circumstances and that Nicola may have gone into the water. due to a “problem” with her springer spaniel dog, Willow.
Ms Bulley’s family and friends said they did not believe the police “theory” and urged people to keep looking. Paul Ansell, her partner of 12 years, gave television interviews asking for help, saying her daughters wanted their mother home.
As the days passed and speculation continued online, Lancashire police revealed that she had struggled with alcohol and perimenopause. This sparked widespread criticism for revealing his personal information, with Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak being questioned about the police approach and force facing the investigation.
The Police College is conducting an independent review of Lancashire Police’s handling of the case, ordered by Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden. Part of the review will include inquiries made by the Information Commissioner’s Office about the force’s disclosure of Ms. Bulley’s personal information.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct also reviewed a well-being check on Nicola Bulley carried out by police 17 days before she went missing. Media watchdog Ofcom is also in contact with ITV and Sky following criticism from Ms Bulley’s family.
The inquest, which is expected to last two days, will begin at County Hall, Preston, before Dr James Adeley, Lancashire’s chief coroner.
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