Nicola Bulley had 'significant issues with alcohol' and menopause struggles before vanishing - police

LIVE – Updated at 13:05Lancashire Constabulary had been found to ‘require improvement’ in how it investigated crime months before the force investigated Nicola Bulley’s disappearance. The force had been Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary to be ‘good’ overall but was not always carrying out investigations 'timely' and 'thoroughly'. The watchdog added that victims 'weren't always updated on progress' on cases.

A mural in memory of the late Nicola Bulley has been unveiled in the town she grew up in.

An investigation into a welfare check carried out by Lancashire Police before Nicola Bulley disappeared has been launched by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Police watchdogs have launched an investigation into a welfare check on Nicola Bulley carried out days before she was last seen.

"spiritual medium" in the River Wyre, around a mile from where the mortgage adviser was last seen. Her disappearance sparked a major investigation involving helicopters, drones and specialist search teams. Sadly however, it also drew "weirdos" and "ghouls" to the area, who reportedly used the tragic case as a means to promote their online presence by spreading conspiracy theories, uninvited.

Nicola Bulley's sister has shared a poignant tribute after police confirmed the body in the River Wyre was her missing sibling. Louise Cunningham has been at the centre of the "Bring Nikki Back Home" social media campaign and today shared a yellow heart on Facebook in memory of her older sister. Friends and people from her old school in Essex are urging people to "spread the love for Nikki" and have shared tributes.

The Mirror. In a statement in Facebook, he wrote: "Yes it is myself in the images in the media currently circulating relating to the case of Nicola Bulley and yes yesterday [Sunday] morning it was myself and a friend who reported and assisted the police in the recovery of a body from the river Wyre.

LIVE – Updated at 07:31The comments made against a female detective leading the search for Nicola Bulley have come under severe criticism from a former head of a police watchdog. Zoe Billingham, who headed His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary, said the remarks by “a small section of the media” were “really disturbing”. “It’s the 21st century.

people peering in through windows and some have resorted to hiring private security. In a video circulating on social media, two men appear to be searching a patch of woodland near the River Wyre, where Ms Bulley disappeared. One proceeds to dig up a patch of ground while the other films.

READ MORE: Christian Atsu confirmed dead by agent as body discovered in rubble of Turkey earthquakeIn a press conference on Wednesday, Lancashire Police revealed Ms Bulley was classed as a "high-risk" missing person immediately after her partner reported her disappearance "based on a number of specific vulnerabilities". They later added in a statement that she had been struggling with alcohol issues and the menopause, and had stopped taking HRT medication. Information Commissioner John Edwards has said he will be asking the force about its decision to make the information public, adding: "Data protection law exists to ensure people's personal information is used properly and fairly.

Nicola Bulley sent before she disappeared leaving her phone on a riverside bench. The 45-year-old went missing on Friday, January 27 after dropping off her two daughters at school in St Michaels On Wyre. Nicola was last seen while walking her dog Willow close to the River Wyre.

Read more: Nicola Bulley latest updates as police slammed over decision to say missing mum had issues with alcoholIn a statement issued by Lancashire Police, the family said: "It has now been three weeks since Nikki went missing. We, as a family, believe that the public focus has become distracted from finding Nikki, and more about speculation and rumours into her private life. “As a family, we were aware that Lancashire Police, last night, released a statement with some personal details.

the search for the missing mother-of-two continues. Her loved ones revealed new details about her struggles she was facing before she vanished. Relatives spoke out about the side effects she was struggling with from the perimenopause.

Nicola Bulley's family says the missing mother-of-two suffered a "crisis" after she stopped taking menopause drugs - as her loved ones revealed details about her struggles before she vanished. Relatives also asked the public to end the "appalling" levels of speculation and "rumours" about her private life, as they spoke about the "significant" side effects she faced from the perimenopause.

Lancashire Police have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct over the contact the force had with Nicola Bulley proper to her disappearance.

Nicola Bulley's family says the missing mother-of-two suffered a "crisis" after she stopped taking menopause drugs - as her loved ones revealed details about her struggles before she vanished. Relatives also asked the public to end the "appalling" levels of speculation and "rumours" about her private life, as they spoke about the "significant" side effects she faced from the perimenopause.

Denise Welch has taken to Twitter to share her frustration about the latest update on missing person Nicola Bulley, with the Loose Women star branding them an "absolute disgrace".

LIVE – Updated at 14:36The family of Nicola Bulley has broken its silence after police were criticised for disclosing that the mother-of-two faced “significant issues with alcohol”, which had resurfaced of late. Lancashire Police shared the details on Wednesday evening, giving significantly more information than at a press conference just hours earlier, when they simply referred to “vulnerabilities” that made her a “high risk” missing person. In a statement issued via police on Thursday afternoon, Ms Bulley’s family said they “believe that the public focus has become distracted from finding Nikki, and more about speculation and rumours into her private life.

Coronation Street actress Nicola Thorp criticising the move. The force has been accused of "victim blaming" after disclosing that the missing Lancashire mother-of-two suffered "some significant issues with alcohol" in the past "brought on by her ongoing struggles with the menopause".

LIVE – Updated at 13:00A forensic expert who led the underwater search for missing Nicola Bulley has said they should “redo the search” following the revelations at yesterday’s press conference. On Wednesday evening, Lancashire Police announced the missing mother had faced “significant issues with alcohol” brought on by “ongoing struggles with the menopause”. It was significantly more detail than detectives had released at a press conference just hours earlier, when they simply referred to “vulnerabilities” that made her a “high risk” missing person.