Police probing the disappearance of Nicola Bulley have been criticized for disclosing private information about the mother.
Wednesday, Lancashire Police stated that the 45-year-old had “significant alcohol problems” and “continuing menopausal difficulties.”
The police stated it had informed Ms. Bulley’s family that the information would be released.
MPs, legal specialists, and privacy activists were among those who responded to the release on social media.
Following a press conference on Wednesday in which the officer leading the investigation into Ms. Bulley’s disappearance disclosed she had “several specific vulnerabilities,” the force stated that she had “suffered from some significant alcohol-related issues brought on by her ongoing menopausal struggles,” which had “resurfaced in recent months.”
Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, told that the release of such information was “very unusual.” Adding, “I do have many issues and concerns about that.
She stated, “Before commenting further, I would like to communicate directly with Lancashire Police about their reasons for doing so, as I am aware that police decisions can be influenced by complex factors.”
Chairwoman of an NHS mental health trust and former police officer Zo Billingham told that the update “smacked of panic or perhaps a deliberate decision by the force to consider how they can keep their reputation.
She stated, “This is quite troubling on multiple fronts.”
People are asking, correctly, how the reproductive status of a missing woman relates to the search for her. And whether the same information would be made public if she were a male.
“Reassure the public that the force is handling this problem correctly,” she said.
‘An unusual move’
On January 27, Ms. Bulley vanished while walking her dog after dropping off her two children at school.
Lancashire Police believe she entered the Wyre between 09:10 and 09:20 GMT. However, her partner Paul Ansell does not think she fell into the water.
Det Supt Rebecca Smith, who is leading the investigation, stated at a press conference on Wednesday that Ms. Bulley was classified as a high-risk missing person as soon as she was reported missing “based on information provided by her partner and several specific vulnerabilities that we were made aware of.”
Later, the force released an update in which it stated that it “just wanted to expand on that a bit.”
According to the report, it was “clear from speaking to Paul and the family that Nicola had previously struggled with alcohol due to her ongoing problems with menopause, and that these struggles had resurfaced in recent months.”
A force spokesperson said officers attended Ms. Bulley’s home on 10 January after receiving a “report of concern for welfare.” But no arrests were made and an investigation into the incident was ongoing.
They stated that it was “unusual for us to go into such depth about someone’s private life, but we felt it was important to explain what we meant when we spoke about vulnerabilities to prevent further speculation or misunderstanding.
They added that they had “explained to Nicola’s family why this additional material was released.”
