The Information Commissioner’s Office has announced that it will not be taking any enforcement action against the force over its disclosure of her personal information, while the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has cleared the Lancashire force of any wrongdoing.
Nicola Bulley, a 45-year-old mother, was reported missing on 27 January in St Michael’s on Wyre. Her body was later found in the River Wyre on 19 February, more than three weeks later, after the search for her attracted national attention and so-called armchair detectives.
The IOPC identified two “areas for learning,” but ultimately cleared the force of any wrongdoing in its handling of the case. The College of Policing will conduct a review into how police handled the case and will publish its findings in the autumn.
The case attracted significant attention, with many members of the public expressing their concern and support for Nicola and her family. Despite this, the IOPC and the Information Commissioner’s Office have both concluded that the force did not act inappropriately.
The news will come as a relief to Lancashire Police, who have faced scrutiny over their handling of the case. The force has maintained throughout that they acted appropriately and did everything in their power to find Nicola and bring her home safely.
