A police watchdog has launched an investigation after an officer conducted a welfare check at Nicola Bulley’s family home days before she disappeared.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it was notified that an officer from Lancashire Police visited the address on January 10.
Nicola was found in the River Wyre on Sunday less than a mile from where she was last seen, 23 days after she vanished.
Lancashire’s police and crime commissioner has also asked the College of Policing to carry out a “full independent review” into the handling of the Nicola's case.
Conservative PCC Andrew Snowden said the public “understandably feel that there remain questions about the handling of elements of the police investigation, how it was communicated and the decision to release personal information”.
Flowers and messages have been left on a footbridge near to where Nicola Bulley was found
Dave Nelson
Police previously revealed that the mum-of-two suffered “significant issues with alcohol” that had returned as a result of her menopause.
Lancashire Police has said it “welcomes the independent review that the Police and Crime Commissioner has asked the College of Policing to conduct”.
Snowden said the review would have three clear areas of focus: investigation and search, communication and public engagement, and the releasing of personal information.
A spokesman for the IOPC said: “Following a referral by Lancashire Constabulary on Thursday, we have started an independent investigation regarding contact the force had with Nicola Bulley on January 10 2023.
“We were notified by the force that an officer attended the family home on that date as part of a welfare check.”
An inquest opening heard how the 45-year-old was identified by her dental records.
The 45-year-old had been walking her dog in St Michael’s on Wyre after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school on Friday, January 27.
Days before the mortgage advisor went missing, a response car with police and health professionals inside “attended a report of concern for welfare” at Nicola’s home on 10 January.
On Sunday, officers were called to the River Wyre close to Rawcliffe Road after two walkers spotted a body.
Nicola was found on a stretch of the river just past a slight bend - around a mile outside the village - close to where a tree had fallen on its side.
Police retrieved the body of Nicola Bulley from the River Wyre on Sunday
Jason Roberts
Police faced backlash for releasing personal information about Nicola’s struggles with the menopause and alcohol before she vanished.
But officers say they released the information to reduce speculation about the mum’s disappearance, which had begun severely interfering with the investigation.
Lancashire Police described the investigation as “hugely complex and highly emotional”.
Nicola's family said in a statement on Monday that they can let her “rest now” following the discovery of her remains.