How police could have avoided dreadful invasion of Nicola Bulley’s privacy
Once upon a time, believe it or not, detectives in high-profile cases took journalists into their confidence and privately explained what they were thinking.
It was always strictly off-the-record and not for use, but it helped us understand the difficulties of the investigation and informed our reporting.
During their hunt for the killer of Milly Dowler in 2002, Surrey Police were concerned about inaccurate reports and startling rumours about a particular suspect, so they hired a hotel room and briefed members of the Crime Reporters Association (CRA) on what was going on behind the scenes.
“They promised us that whatever question we wanted to ask would be answered,” recalled retired CRA chairman Jeff Edwards. “And they were.”
The senior detective revealed the complexities of the case and much of the circumstantial evidence his team were building against the suspect.
None of us broke the agreement not to publish, and probably just as well because the suspect was eventually ruled out and serial killer Levi Bellfield was later convicted of Milly’s murder.
The police had enough trust in reporters to show us the focus of their investigation, without having to bat away our questions awkwardly at a live press conference.
Milly Dowler was murdered by Levi Bellfield
In Wiltshire a few years later, Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher wanted to appeal for help in another murder case. There were some things he didn’t want to reveal publicly, but he thought that knowing them would help us.
So, he held an on-camera press conference, made his appeal, then told us to leave our recording equipment behind, took us into a separate room and gave us a lot more information.
This isn’t a fairy tale. These things really did used to happen.
If Lancashire Police had told reporters at the start that there were welfare concerns about Nicola Bulley, we would have reported her disappearance rather differently and details of her personal problems may have never come out.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Why Nicola Bulley was listed as ‘high risk’
We would have understood their thinking much more when they said, a week on, that their main working theory was that Nicola had gone into the river. That revelation simply raised other questions they wouldn’t respond to.
Two weeks later, the police caved into the speculation and answered those questions by detailing her issues with alcohol and menopause. It was a dreadful invasion of Nicola and her family’s privacy.
Read more:
Nicola Bulley’s father hopes for ‘breakthrough’
Dog walker describes finding missing woman’s phone
Briefing reporters early on might have avoided the widespread criticism the Lancashire force is now facing from the public, the media, and the government.
These days, police don’t trust reporters like they once did. Maybe that’s one factor that has led to another modern truism: the public don’t much trust the police.
Two women have died following reports of a stabbing in Milton Keynes on Christmas Day, police have said.
A dog injured in the incident in Bletchley also died after being taken to the vets.
A man and a teenage boy suffered serious injuries.
A 49-year-old man from Milton Keynes has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder and remains in custody.
Forensic officers at the scene. Pics: PA
Officers were called to a block of apartments in Santa Cruz Avenue just after 6.30pm on Christmas Day following reports of a stabbing.
The two women, aged 38 and 24, died at the scene, Thames Valley Police said. Their next of kin have been informed.
The injured man and teenage boy were taken to hospital and are both in a stable condition.
Police said the parties are known to each other.
Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Brangwin said: “Firstly I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the families of the women who have tragically died in this shocking incident.
“We have launched a double murder investigation, which may be concerning to the wider public; however, we have made an arrest and are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident and the parties are known to each other.”
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports9 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway