Dive expert says search for Nicola Bulley would’ve changed if cops had revealed she was high risk

AN underwater search expert has said that his hunt for missing mum Nicola Bulley may have been hindered by police not sharing information.

Peter Faulding said that his investigation would have been different, and may have been more accurate, if cops had told him that she was classified as "high risk".

Last night he told Jeremy Kyle on TalkTV that the information would have changed his "whole search strategy".

Mr Faulding said: "If I'd known this information on day one… I’ve worked on complex murder cases, missing people since 1999. If I'd been given that information and I am trusted that wouldn't have been handed to the media.

"It would have been confidential and I would have changed my whole search strategy.

"I assumed that Nicola had slipped into the river and it’s only two foot deep at the bottom of the bank. 

"That's why I've been so adamant that she's not in that part of the river - we thoroughly searched it. If she jumped in or intended to take her own life or walked off or wherever she is, that would change my whole plan."

He added that he wished the case could have been "handled a lot better" by sharing the information.

Asked if he was angry with the police, he said: "I'm not, I understand, I work with the police every day. It's not angry with the police, I’m angry at their comms.

"And the trust, I mean, normally I'm trusted with highly confidential information, it never goes anywhere.

"And if I’d been told on the day that Nicola was high risk, she was vulnerable then I would have treated my whole search, totally, totally different, and we would have looked to potential other areas with all the expertise we've got.

"I understand that they have to withhold certain information. I understand that, but giving it to me would have assisted the operation a lot easier."

Lancashire Police revealed on February 15 that Nicola was deemed a high risk missing person due to her "personal vulnerabilities".

The force said that the 45-year-old struggled with "significant issues with alcohol" as a result of the menopause.

Nicola has been missing since January 27 after she vanished while walking her dog in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire.

The development comes after Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith confirmed that the force's "main working hypothesis" remains that Nicola fell in the river.

Nicola Bulley cops today revealed:

• Cops are blasted for revealing that Nicola Bulley struggled with 'significant issues with alcohol'
• Police reveal officers were called to the family home just weeks before Nicola went missing
• Nicola Bulley cops say the missing mum was deemed 'high risk' due to 'vulnerabilities'
• Detectives revealed in a press conference today they are investigating three possible scenarios over her disappearance
• But cops insisted there is still no suggestion of a third party being involved
• Police are now taking over her social media accounts as part of the investigation
• Follow our blog for the latest news

But she revealed two other theories for her disappearance - Nicola leaving the area voluntarily and third party involvement.

DS Smith said: "There is not a single piece of information or evidence to suggest there is any third-party involvement."

There is also nothing to suggest Nicola left the field voluntarily.

Asked if she hoped to find her alive, DS Smith said: "I hope with all my heart that we find Nicola Bulley alive more than anything."

However, cops have faced criticism for Nicola's loved ones, as well as external experts, for leaning too hard on their initial theory.

Her partner Paul Ansell believes "something happened" on the day she disappeared as people do not just "vanish into thin air".

Jeremy Kyle hosts his show on TalkTV every Monday-Thursday at 7pm.