Nicola Bulley cops reveal they’re still probing ‘incident’ that saw police called to mum’s home before she vanished
COPS last night revealed they are still probing an “incident” that saw police called to Nicola Bulley's home just weeks before she vanished.
The dog walker, 45, disappeared after dropping her children off at school in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, on Friday January 27.
Since then there has been no trace of the mum-of-two, leaving her family in agony despite extensive searches.
But detectives yesterday gave further insight into their colossal investigation into her disappearance.
In a statement, they said police had been called to Nicola's family home on January 10 - just three weeks before she went missing - after a report of concern for welfare.
Lancashire Police said: “No one has been arrested in relation to this incident, but it is being investigated.”
MORE ON NICOLA
It comes as...
- 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 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
And they said the report had been sparked by "significant issues".
In a statement, police said: "Sadly, it is clear from speaking to Paul and the family that Nicola had in the past suffered with some significant issues with alcohol which were brought on by her ongoing struggles with the menopause and that these struggles had resurfaced over recent months.
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“This caused some real challenges for Paul and the family.
“As a result of those issues, a response car staffed by both police and health professionals attended a report of concern for welfare at Nicola’s home address on January 10."
They said these issues meant Nicola had been classed as a "high risk" missing person when she vanished due to the "vulnerabilities" identified by her partner.
They added that revealing these "vulnerabilities" were an "unusual" but necessary step.
But since their statement, MPs and the public have slammed the police as “disgusting and misogynistic” for revealing the sensitive and private information.
Alicia Kearns, Tory MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee: "I am deeply uncomfortable with the police releasing Nicola Bulley's so-called "vulnerabilities" on menopause and alcohol.
"I struggle to ascertain how this will assist Police in their search and investigations. "I do see how it would assist those wishing to victim-blame or diminish."
Former Minister Caroline Nokes told The Sun: "It is so important to continue to destigmatise the menopause.
"It is such a taboo still to even discuss the hormonal challenges the menopause brings, and Lancashire Police have managed to couple alcohol and the menopause in a really clumsy way.
"Of course one of the issues is the constant demand for more and more information - which effectively pushed Lancashire Police into issuing a statement which looks an awful lot like victim shaming."
Others have taken to Twitter, with one writing: “Police have given the information about Mrs Nicola Bulley's lifestyle and really cops should not have put it out there!
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“That she had an issue with the alcohol and that for sure! Disgusting of the police to say that alcohol was misused!”
Another fumed: “Why do I need to know that a missing woman had difficulty with alcohol and symptoms related to the menopause? Highly personal details.”