Nicola Bulley 45y Old mum of 2 little girls missing from River Wyre area since last Friday morning at 9:15am walking her dog, Willow.

Yes, the mention of vulnerabilities and the particular interest in the river send a message. It seems there are aspects that the family don’t want to address. It’s sad that the police have had to defend themselves in this way, as there are details that the family presumably don’t want made known - details which have resulted in much criticism of the police, even by the family.

The media coverage is a double edged sword GSM. If anyone saw anything they'll be encouraged or prompted to come forward but it can also bring about less palatable comment.

Anniebach

Not helpful for whom ?

I just think unless they're going to explain these vulnerabilities they shouldn't have mentioned them in the press conference.

Now the family and friends will no doubt be upset and the armchair sleuths will have a field day.

I think mention of the vulnerabilities is the police’s only way of defending their approach in the face of much uninformed criticism. The family may have said they don’t want these vulnerabilities made public. I expect everything will be made clear in due course.

Perhaps the family don’t want her vulnerabilities made public

Anniebach

Perhaps the family don’t want her vulnerabilities made public

I'm sure they don't. Which makes me question why mention them at all.

But I agree with Germanshepherdsmum as to why the police have mentioned it

The police have now said the vulnerabilities were ‘significant issues with alcohol’ and police and ‘welfare officers’ had been called to her home on January 10 following a report of concern for wellbeing.

Poor lady. Whatever her vulnerability is/are something has made this happen. Poor soul.

Oh no

That shouldn't have been made public.

I disagree Smileless. If it had been made public from the start, there wouldn't have been as much speculation and the police might not have been so 'distracted' as they put it from their job.

I've just said that to my husband Smileless. Who knows what that family went through. I hope the press don't start digging into this.

Ongoing struggles with the menopause they have said. Poor lady.

How sad. Just awful for her family and especially those small girls. I hope this is brought to an end soon for all their sakes.

good point CatsCatsCats but I still think it's wrong.

I think we can all deduce what they are implying and why but I hope it’s not the case. I feel desperately sorry for her if this is the case and wonder why she did not receive help.

She is quite young to have struggled with the menopause so that must have been doubly hard.

She may have been offered help Forsythia. Apparently her alcohol problem resurfaced with the menopause. It seems unlikely she will now be found alive and if her body is found her problems would be made public at an inquest. I hope this will put an end to the speculation but it’s sad that, in the circumstances, the family were critical of the police. They must have had their suspicions from the outset.

I was only a couple of years older Kate. So much sadder for much younger women who haven’t had children.

i haven't followed all the reporting etc re this case.
but i had the same impression hearing today's press conference by the lancs police, as i did with the original one.
they announcement that they are going to make a statement at a specified time.
people naturally assume that they are going to tell some progress/ discovery in the case.
instead, we hear a long-winded defence of their activities, enumerating the details of their searches.
there is no progress. why don't they say just that.
they have not handled the PR well at all.
i don't know enough about it to say how they have handled the investigation/search.

welbeck, they have explained significant facts about the background which clearly they weren’t able to divulge earlier. I think they have been driven to do so in their own defence.

Germanshepherdsmum

*welbeck*, they have explained significant facts about the background which clearly they weren’t able to divulge earlier. I think they have been driven to do so in their own defence.

I agree. I now feel bad about how critical I have been about their handling of the case.

I think this happens to a number of professions, I remember an episode of this morning where a father was vocally criticising the social workers who had taken away his child ( he fought through the courts to have the child returned) the social workers obviously could not comment. He is now in prison for the murder of his child.

Well said Galaxy 😞

I think there’s a whole new background to it all and it will come out at some point
I think the police have been trying to honour the family by not divulging some of the more private reasons for her disappearance
All very very sad