Nicola Bulley was a 'high risk' missing person due to 'number of specific vulnerabilities' admit police in latest update

Nicola Bulley was a 'high risk' missing person due to 'number of specific vulnerabilities' admit police in latest update
Nicola Bulley investigation update 15 feb
Dan Falvey

By Dan Falvey


Published: 15/02/2023

- 12:40

Updated: 15/02/2023

- 12:55

The mum-of-two went missing during a “10-minute window” between 9.10am and 9.20am on January 27

Nicola Bulley as a "high risk" missing person police have said, explaining there were a "number of specific vulnerabilities".

Speaking at a press conference this morning, Lancashire Police detective superintendent Rebecca Smith criticised the amount of "false information, accusations and rumours" surrounding the case.


She warned the police had been "inundated" with unhelpful information that was "distracting" from their investigation.

Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith of Lancashire Police updates the media in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, as police continue their search for Nicola Bulley, 45, who vanished on January 27 while walking her springer spaniel Willow shortly after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school. Picture date: Wednesday February 15, 2023.
Lancashire Police detective superintendent Rebecca Smith criticised the amount of 'false information' being shared
Peter Powell

Nearly 40 detectives have sifted through hundreds of hours of CCTV, dashcam footage and tip-offs from the public.

Police believe that the mother of two died after falling into the river Wyre while walking her springer spaniel, Willow, on January 27.

She went missing during a “10-minute window” between 9.10am and 9.20am on the day.

Appearing along side Detective Superintendent Smith, Police Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson said there was still "no evidence to indicate a criminal aspect or third party involvement".

He said: “I would emphasise that it remains the case there is no evidence to indicate a criminal aspect or third party involvement in Nicola’s disappearance.

“However, the officers involved in the investigation are the same experienced specialists and many senior officers who are concerned with the investigation of the most serious and complex crimes.”

Smith added: "It’s a live investigation, and there is always information coming in.

"But we are in the 20th day, we have had a thorough, dedicated, meticulous investigation and there is not one single piece of information that’s come to note that would suggest that Nicola has left those fields."

Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson updates the media in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, as police continue their search for Nicola Bulley, 45, who vanished on January 27 while walking her springer spaniel Willow shortly after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school. Picture date: Wednesday February 15, 2023.
Police Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson said there was 'no evidence' of third party involvement"
Peter Powell

Nicola Bulley's partner does not believe she fell into the river
Nicola Bulley's partner does not believe she fell into the river
PA Video

Nicola's partner Paul Ansell has repeatedly said he does not believe the mortgage adviser fell into the river.

"Personally, I am 100 per cent convinced it's not the river, that's my opinion," he said last week to 5 News.

"There has to be a way to find out what happened, there has to be.

"You cannot walk your dog down a river and just vanish into thin air."

He said he believes "something happened" on the day of Nicola's disappearance.

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