Missing Nicola Bulley: Police issue dispersal order to stop amateur sleuths travelling to village

Police have issued a dispersal order for the village where Nicola Bulley disappeared to stop amateur sleuths travelling to the area.

Officers at Lancashire Police warned of potential arrests after members of the public travelled to the area to reportedly search an abandoned house.

It comes amid reports of members of the public taking matters into their own hands in the search for Ms Bulley, 44, spurred on by theories shared on social media.

In a statement, the force said the order was issued after “reports of individuals – from outside the area of St Michael’s – filming on social media close to properties.”

“The order will remain in place for 48 hours and gives officers the power to disperse anyone committing anti-social behaviour,” said a spokesperson.

“Two dispersal notices were issued, and a number of other people were warned about their behaviour.”

The force added that it would “not tolerate criminality, including trespass and criminal damage”.

It also confirmed it was looking into “grossly offensive” comments made online about the case.

The small village has been swarmed with non-residents since the mother-of-two’s disappearance last week.

Some have taken part in volunteer searches organised by residents with help of police, but others have been criticised for visiting without purpose.

Speaking to the BBC, Heather Gibbons, a friend of Ms Bulley, said: “We have noticed it does feel like some people have come to maybe use it as more like a tourist spot, to do their own personal social media things which in some ways we see and understand but it is hard, there’s a lot of people around as it is.”

Earlier this week, Superintendent Sally Riley warned members of the public not “to take the law into their own hands” in the search for the missing mortgage advisor.

Officers believe that Ms Bulley tragically fell into the river while walking her dog, but despite extensive searches and specialist equipment being drafted in, she is yet to be found.

“People may have seen less police activity today than previously in the area of the river above the weir but that is not because we have stepped down our searches, it is because the focus of the search has moved further downstream into the area of the river which becomes tidal and then out towards the sea,” a spokesperson said Thursday.