Police investigating Nicola Bulley disappearance warn public not to 'take the law into their own hands'
08.02.2023 - 00:45
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
Police investigating the disappearance of Nicola Bulley have warned members of the public not to "take the law into their own hands".
Officers have said they will not tolerate" people committing criminal offences by breaking into empty or derelict riverside properties to try to find Nicola who disappeared 11 days ago.
The mum-of-two went missing around 9.20am on Friday, January 27, after dropping her children off at school in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire. Her dog Willow was found near the river where officers have been focusing their search.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Lancashire Constabulary warned members of the public not to "take the law into their own hands" and not to direct online abuse at people connected to the investigation.
Superintendent Sally Riley said: "We will not tolerate online abuse of anyone, including innocent witnesses, members of the family and friends, of local businesses, or of criminal damage or burglary. We will be taking a strong line on that, as you would expect."
She told reporters: "There are some properties along the riverside which are empty or derelict.
"Whilst it may be well intentioned that people think that that could be a line of inquiry, I would ask them to desist from doing that.
"In some cases it may be criminal if they are breaking in and causing damage or committing a burglary."
Supt Riley said officers have searched derelict riverside properties with the permission of owners.
"Because there is no criminal element yet identified, and we don't expect there to be in this inquiry, then we're not starting to go into houses because that's not where the inquiry is leading us," she added.
Supt Riley also urged the public to avoid "distressing" speculation about what might have