more interest earlier. the generated more interest earlier. the circumstances were different, the parents _ circumstances were different, the parents were very involved, and so on. parents were very involved, and so on but_ parents were very involved, and so on but in— parents were very involved, and so on. but in terms of the level of interest— on. but in terms of the level of interest and people not sort of understanding what happened... a warm understanding what happened... warm welcome to viewers on bbc world. we are covering a developing story he had on the bbc world news channel. that is concerning the discovery of a body in the area where the 45—year—old mother of two, nicola bulley, went missing. police have confirmed that they were called to the scene earlier today, just after 11:30am. specialist officers entered the river wired, they have sadly recovered a body, but are keen to stress that there is no formal

identification that the body is that of a woman, or of nicola bulley. that is our top story if you're just joining us. i have got danny shaw with me here. we have been covering a number of key issues, we now have viewers from around the world with us, i wonder if we can take police investigations global like this. in terms as if you like this, how does the uk compare? i terms as if you like this, how does the uk compare?— terms as if you like this, how does the uk compare? i think the uk has a histo of the uk compare? i think the uk has a history of good _ the uk compare? i think the uk has a history of good detective _ the uk compare? i think the uk has a history of good detective work, - the uk compare? i think the uk has a history of good detective work, good | history of good detective work, good investigations being at the forefront, in terms of murderer inquiries, doing all of the right up—to—date practical matters that are necessary in terms of missing persons investigation they are a

challenge, most people who go missing and there are something like hundred and 70... hundred and 70,000 in the uk going missing year, out of those most people will return within 48 hours and after two weeks, with the vast majority of people i found. i think the issue is... i the vast majority of people i found. i think the issue is. . ._ i think the issue is... i will allow ou to i think the issue is... i will allow you to deal... _ i think the issue is. .. i will allow you to deal... i _ i think the issue is... i will allow you to deal... i was _ i think the issue is... i will allow you to deal... i was wondering l i think the issue is... i will allowj you to deal... i was wondering if you to deal... i was wondering if you just wanted to take a moment to either turn the phone off or reduce the volume before us, thank you very much and to carry on. i’m the volume before us, thank you very much and to carry on.— much and to carry on. i'm i'm going to have to — much and to carry on. i'm i'm going to have to go _ much and to carry on. i'm i'm going to have to go in _ much and to carry on. i'm i'm going to have to go in a _ much and to carry on. i'm i'm going to have to go in a minute. - much and to carry on. i'm i'm going to have to go in a minute. the - to have to go in a minute. the important thing to note is that missing persons investigation is present a huge challenge to people, there is no doubt about that, the police and investigators. in this

particular case, lancashire police has come under intense criticism. i think their investigation has been thorough, they have consulted the right experts, it would seem that they have brought in and gathered in huge amounts of close circuit tv footage, dash cam footage, spoken to witnesses, done an extensive and exhaustive investigation, they may be some question marks about that, i think the main issue for them is the question marks about the communications, information that they have divulged to the media, stating very early on that it was their belief that the body was in their belief that the body was in the water, which may have closed off other avenues of information coming in. and more recently disclosing information, very personal information, very personal information about nicola bulley. that may have been justified, may not be justified, we don't exacting of the reasons why they do that, but it certainly is questionable and it certainly begs the question if they thought it was so important, why was

it not disclosed earlier on, possibly not disclosed in a possibly different way. so investigations like this, i think the uk has done in a similarway like this, i think the uk has done in a similar way to other countries, but there is nothing to suggest that uk has a worse track record that everyone else. uk has a worse track record that everyone else-— uk has a worse track record that everyone else. that he shall, we believe it for _ everyone else. that he shall, we believe it for now, _ everyone else. that he shall, we believe it for now, thank - everyone else. that he shall, we believe it for now, thank you - everyone else. that he shall, we | believe it for now, thank you very much, you have been with us for some time taking us through the key aspect of the case, involving missing people. we will let you go now, i can hear your phone is continuing to ring, thank you very much indeed. i will remind you of our breaking news. following a formal statement that had been released by lancashire police, just after lunchtime, the statement read

that an underwater search team and specialist officers have attended the scene and entered the water and have sadly recovered a body. this was a following concern about a lot of police activity around the river near to st michael's on wyre. the reason for that is that that was close to the prox committee of the area where 45—year—old nicola bulley disappeared on the 27th of january, she was a mother of two. let's go back to the statement, the underwater search team into the water, had specialist officers on site as well, they enter the water, recovered a body, they have not formally identified the body as that of nicola bulley. they have asked for privacy for the family of nicola bulley to be respected and the of

the body that has been recovered is currently unexplained. that is where we are, in terms of lancashire police. let's discuss aspects of this case further, i'm joined by the former chief superintendent of the london metropolitan police. thank you very much forjoining us here on bbc news. i wonder what questions are at the forefront of your mind as you have seen this story develop in the last two hours? figs you have seen this story develop in the last two hours?— the last two hours? as you will be aware, the last two hours? as you will be aware. this _ the last two hours? as you will be aware. this is _ the last two hours? as you will be aware, this is a _ the last two hours? as you will be aware, this is a story _ the last two hours? as you will be aware, this is a story that - the last two hours? as you will be aware, this is a story that has - aware, this is a story that has gripped britain for the last three weeks, they have been a significant criticism of the police in the way they have handled the situation, vowed how they have released information and the reasonableness of releasing that information. i think what will happen, in terms of missing person inquiry is, is that the family will have family liaison

officer and that officer may have more than one, given the length of this investigation, that officer works directly with the family, i have performed the role myself, it's an arduous role, a very taxing role, the family will build up trust with that particular individual police officer and then he or she will be able to speak to the family, explain what is going on with the investigation. so it is an investigative role, as well as maintaining relationships with the family. and it's one of the things that came out of the failures of a previous murder when police were criticised for failing to build up relationships with the family. i appreciated this is all regulation, but the circumstances, unfortunately, i'm not very positive in terms of an ending that we were all hoping forth, in terms of nicola bulley who went missing three weeks ago. bulley who went missing three weeks aro. ~ , ., ., ~ bulley who went missing three weeks

aro.~ ., «a, bulley who went missing three weeks ago. when you talk about building up relationships — ago. when you talk about building up relationships with _ ago. when you talk about building up relationships with the _ ago. when you talk about building up relationships with the families - relationships with the families involved in such cases, what should have a relationship look like? what should they be doing? i have a relationship look like? what should they be doing?— should they be doing? i think what we have seen. _ should they be doing? i think what we have seen, this _ should they be doing? i think what we have seen, this is _ should they be doing? i think what we have seen, this is an _ we have seen, this is an unprecedented case, i've never known a missing person inquiry to be like this. i am afraid the longer a person is missing, the more likely that it will not be a happy ending. i think the folios and officer will be the person who is the single point of contact for the family and the police investigation. they will make sure they get all of the information that they need that will help the police. they will be told about one abilities that the individual has, told about social media accounts, friends, relatives, anything else that they may think weight may be able to the police and they will then share that information with the senior investigating officer, in this case, the senior investigating officer has indicated what a strategy was and

the three key areas of strategy that the three key areas of strategy that the senior investigating officer was pursuing and she made those very clear, the one is that nicola had entered the water, the river wyre, the second one was that a third party was involved and the third one was that nicola had left the scene as a revelation. the police considered whether she would go into motto on the information they received. —— right into the water. the next stages of this will be that the family liaison officer speaking to the family, giving them informed of what is happening, they also need to make sure they are aware of the kind of very unhelpful and hurtful comments that have been made on social media from various individuals and perhaps trying to protect the families from the

speculation. you will be aware, we have... i've never been hearing about this happening in any police investigation, the police have had to disperse, because we have had people coming in from all over the country, trying to use this opportunity to raise their own profile or indeed look to solve the missing person case. you profile or indeed look to solve the missing person case.— profile or indeed look to solve the missing person case. you said and a number of people _ missing person case. you said and a number of people have _ missing person case. you said and a number of people have said - missing person case. you said and a number of people have said that. missing person case. you said and a| number of people have said that this case is unprecedented. you have attributed two factors, the first is the time. it has been three weeks, of which this investigation has been ongoing, it's important to say it is ongoing. also, that the public involvement, the aspect of the public being involved in theirs and the police having to put that dispersal order in, is that what makes it so unprecedented? are there

other factors involved here, makes it so unprecedented? are there otherfactors involved here, why does it make you think that way? the third point of the timing, that three weeks and counting? this three weeks and counting? as you sa , the three weeks and counting? as you say. the body _ three weeks and counting? as you say, the body has _ three weeks and counting? as you say, the body has not _ three weeks and counting? as you say, the body has not been - say, the body has not been identified, sol say, the body has not been identified, so i think it is very important to say that very clearly. the body will have to be identified, if the body has been another three weeks, then there will have to be checked, dental record checks, may be dna checks, to establish who the body is. those can be done fairly quickly, because that is the kind of information family liaison officers will ensure is put into the investigation team. i think the unprecedented element of it is a social media response. normally, when you have these kinds of investigations. and i have been at

various levels of these cases, at the mostjunior hand, doing doorknocking, basic inquiries, to being the commander of the mission, you do not release sensitive information about individuals. but i think what has happened on this occasion is the unprecedented amount of speculation, some of it very hurtful to the family, similar to targeting her partner and other members of the family, you have also had some very unscrupulous individuals are trying to sell stories around nicola's vulnerabilities, which is then led the police to explain why she is a high—risk person. and so, those aspects are the unprecedented aspect. we have had individuals being sent to court and given notices of prosecution for being in the area and we have had individuals

knocking on doors, with no police training, no understanding of how the investigation works, people turning up and taking selfies, i'm afraid some of my 0nex colleagues have jumped afraid some of my 0nex colleagues havejumped in and may afraid some of my 0nex colleagues have jumped in and may very unhelpful comments. focusing on park benches, focusing on what should be done with that. —— my own x colleagues. what we have also seen, the odyssey investigating this, having some sexist and unpleasant comments about what she is wearing at a news conference. this is shocking, because the focus should be on finding nicola, and i'm afraid i things are looking at the moment, that does not very promising at the moment. , , ., . ~ ., that does not very promising at the moment. , ., ., , moment. just going back to people who have been _ moment. just going back to people who have been involved _ moment. just going back to people who have been involved publicly, i who have been involved publicly, public meddlers, frustrating the police, preventing them doing their job correctly, is there a legal

comeback on that because i can they be charged? {line comeback on that because i can they be charged?— be charged? one particular individual _ be charged? one particular individual has _ be charged? one particular individual has filmed - be charged? one particular. individual has filmed himself receive a fixed penalty notice, an alternative to arrest. we know that is down to that. i think when the dust settles, i think the police need to be having that conversation, to look at what happens when you have an unprecedented interest on social media, where you have people from all over having an opinion on what is happening and we have had so many different series where people suddenly watch a crime series and think they are experts. and that is included not only members of the public but former colleagues of mine who have gone on programmes and given that their advice, been very critical of lancashire police which i think is unfair, i think lancashire police were doing everything that was expected, in

terms of retrieving cctv, retrieving dash cam footage, speaking to witnesses, asking and appealing for witnesses, asking and appealing for witnesses not identified, i think what they will be speculating on will be about why they released information about nicola's personal challenges, around alcohol and menopause, but i think that will come out when we have a review of this. what it has disappointed me is that we haven't had people, for example the home secretary, saying very clearly what is required, ie, please get longer to please get on with their work, don't go into the area, do not speculate. those of the kind messages you would expect from the very top. just what lancashire police in doing thisjob effectively. police in doing this “ob effectivelyi police in doing this “ob effectively. police in doing this “ob effectivel. , , ., ., effectively. just before i leave ou, ou effectively. just before i leave you, you mention _ effectively. just before i leave you, you mention the - effectively. just before i leave you, you mention the home l effectively. just before i leave - you, you mention the home secretary,

suella braverman has commented in the last few minutes, describing developments in the case as heartbreaking and distressing after a body was found in the river wyre. she has tweeted, i don't know if we can get that up, but i will take you through the words, it was, these are heartbreaking and distressing dispel events, my thoughts are with nicola's family at this externally difficult time. my final question to you is, why, this was a question posed by a guestjust for yourself, the question is how long and why did it take as long as it did before police officers would have entered the water to begin the search there? could you give us any explanation as to the thinking on that? the could you give us any explanation as to the thinking on that?— to the thinking on that? the river noes into to the thinking on that? the river goes into the _ to the thinking on that? the river goes into the sea. _ to the thinking on that? the river goes into the sea. so _ to the thinking on that? the river goes into the sea. so it's - to the thinking on that? the river goes into the sea. so it's not - to the thinking on that? the river goes into the sea. so it's not a i goes into the sea. so it's not a standard stillwater river, it's a tidal river, so the police would

have had done extensive searches and once they have done that, because it was nicola had gone into the water, they could maintain resources in their place. from what i gather, in their place. from what i gather, in the public domain, they were giving information from a member of the public who indicated they had seen something, the police then went into that specific part of the river. if you can imagine how challenging it would be to try to find anything in a river which has a flow in it, go food to pursue, there is a lot of potential areas where somebody who had fallen and could possibly go in. but i think the police, the first theory was at the beginning that if this does turn out to be very sadly nicola bulley�*s body, the very first theory was that nicola had gone in and that was their working hypothesis. they did not rule out,

some people have suggested, they never ruled out the involvement of a third party, they have never ruled out the possibility that nicola may have left of her own volition. but their working hypothesis, based on their working hypothesis, based on the information that they had, you have to make a very clear, nobody else, whether speculators, former colleagues of mine, whether it is people online, nobody else has had that information and the police, based on information they had, that is their main hypothesis.— is their main hypothesis. thank you ve much is their main hypothesis. thank you very much for— is their main hypothesis. thank you very much for your _ is their main hypothesis. thank you very much for your expertise - is their main hypothesis. thank you very much for your expertise and i very much for your expertise and sharing your time with us today. thank you, let us cross straight to st michael's on wyre and our correspondent who is there on the scene. update us, please come on the

latest where you are?— latest where you are? there is considerably _ latest where you are? there is considerably less _ latest where you are? there is considerably less police - latest where you are? there is| considerably less police activity latest where you are? there is - considerably less police activity he now than there has been earlier for the past few hours. what we have seen, since around midday today is police activity here as part of this search for nicola bulley. around 12 o'clock there was a police helicopter, i could see it hovering over the village of st michael's on wyre, it was then later seen hovering quite close to the river wyre, just a few hundred yards over my shoulder. what then followed was an intensification of police activity, the roads leading up to that area were closed, we could then see police diver going into the river, a number of police officers arrived at the scene, including the detective superintendent, rebecca smith, leading the investigation and there was a drone put up and then

eventually a white tent was also put up eventually a white tent was also put up and then we had this statement from the police, lancashire police, in which they said that an underwater search team and special officers had attended the scene, after this initial report at around 11:30am and when they enter the water they sadly recovered a body. they say that no formal identification has yet been carried out, so they are unable to say whether that body recovered is sadly that of nicola bulley, but they say that of nicola bulley, but they say that there are currently treating the death as unexplained. nicola's family have been informed on developments and their thoughts are with them at this stage. nicola disappeared more than three weeks ago, she was out walking her dog, she had just dropped off her children at school and it was a regular routine of hers, where she would take her dog, willow, for a

walk. what happened next was that iphone, still connected to a teams conference call was left on a bench, her dog were spotted nearby by a member of the public, that was brought into the school and to the police and then we had this huge police and then we had this huge police search, this missing person search, which they have described as unprecedented, we know they have devoted a number of officers to the search, around 40 officers, they have been knocking on doors, they have been knocking on doors, they have traced a number of vehicles, over 700, they have visited 300 premises, they have also had 1500 pieces of information. that gives you an idea of how much resources they have put into this, they did say on the beginning that they were trying to keep an open mind, but that working theory of theirs was that working theory of theirs was that hypothesis was that she had gone into the water and that is why they have sent in police divers here, we also had that private

search team which had been called in by nicola's family, to help in this investigation, that such team had specialist equipment that perhaps a lancashire police did not have and they stretched a huge section of this river, going straight down to the estuary and morecambe bay and, of course, now they have made this discovery today, sadly, we don't at this stage no who that is, they have said no formal identification has taken place and they say that those tests are still being carried out and of course nicola's family have been informed of the day's significant development. i been informed of the day's significant development. i wonder if ou could significant development. i wonder if you could just _ significant development. i wonder if you could just stay _ significant development. i wonder if you could just stay there, _ significant development. i wonder if you could just stay there, we - significant development. i wonder if you could just stay there, we are . you could just stay there, we are coming back to you shortly to find a bit more about the search site and in particular rawcliffe road. mark joins me in the studio now. just update us on the significance of the

latest development, it has attracted a lot of attention so far? yes. latest development, it has attracted a lot of attention so far?— a lot of attention so far? yes, and i think that _ a lot of attention so far? yes, and | think that the _ a lot of attention so far? yes, and | think that the fact _ a lot of attention so far? yes, and i think that the fact that _ a lot of attention so far? yes, and i think that the fact that the - a lot of attention so far? yes, andj i think that the fact that the body, we don't know for certain yet that it is nicola bulley, but i think it would be a reasonable starting point thinking it is. indeed if it is nicola bulley, less than a mile from where she disappeared, throughout the three weeks that police have been saying she is in the river, they were confident of that from the start, despite some concerns about that conviction, you have to think people will be asking questions tonight of how it could be after all of those extensive searches, police saying that if i she was, this river is not enormous, on it's not the amazon. the fact this body was not found the three weeks, i think there

will be questions about whether the handling of that search was done properly and that, because as suggest, comes on top of a huge focus on the way lancashire police have conducted this investigation, their relationship with the family and specifically the revealing of personal details about nicola bulley and the vulnerabilities that the police knew that she had at the time of her disappearance. so i think the lancashire police, they will be questions to answer, this comes at a time when policing in general is finding itself under enormous scrutiny, we still have six policing forces in england and wales in special measures, under the engage process, the inspectorate, that in itself is pretty extraordinary, they are not including lancashire incidentally, i'm sure her majesty's inspectorate of constabulary want to

take along hard look at this. it's five years since they did what is called appeal investigation into lancashire police in 2017. at that time, interestingly, although the force has been given an reasonable bill of health, one thing that emerged was that the force should do more at senior levels to support investigations involving vulnerable people. indeed, there was also concern at the way the lancashire police force protected vulnerable victims. i think it was in another context at the time, but i think people will also be aware that comes very much to the heart of this story, how the police dealt with the disappearance of a woman, what they shared more widely and their ability to deal with the spotlight of attention that suddenly arrived in lancashire. . ~

attention that suddenly arrived in lancashire-— attention that suddenly arrived in lancashire. ., ~ , . ., lancashire. thank you very much for that, lancashire. thank you very much for that. raising — lancashire. thank you very much for that, raising the _ lancashire. thank you very much for that, raising the main _ lancashire. thank you very much for that, raising the main issues - that, raising the main issues concerning the investigation of the search for 45 year nicola bulley, the latest of element is that a body has been found but not confirmed it is hers. this is bbc news, our breaking news, coming from lancashire police and they have confirmed that, following evidence earlier today at 11:36am, they received calls at 11:36am and reports of a body spotted in the river wyre, close to rawcliffe road, specialist units into the water and sadly a body has been confirmed, it has not been identified as that of nicola bulley. mark, i know you are busy on this story, this particular story, i wonder if i could just pose one more question to you on this.

that is, what will likely happen next? ~ ., ., , ., ., , next? well, we already have a number of investigations _ next? well, we already have a number of investigations and _ next? well, we already have a number of investigations and inquiries - next? well, we already have a number of investigations and inquiries into - of investigations and inquiries into lancashire police. if you are talking about what happens as far as luxuries are concerned, we will have to wait and see in terms of this finding of this body. they are conducting an internal review into the way the information of how the body was revealed. the information commissioner said he would like to also look at exactly what happened, they have referred themselves to the independent office of police standards to have a look at what is going on as well. so there will be a number of inquiries which will be already beginning to take evidence and look exactly at what happened and look exactly at what happened and this will play out over the next weeks and months from now. indie weeks and months from now. we believe that for now, but we know we

will be hearing from a mark throughout the day here on bbc news, and put together a special report for us, thank you very much in need. thank you. let us return back to the site of today's latest development and the breaking story. our correspondent is in the village where nicola bulley went missing and the reason why he is there is that there was a lot of police activity today and that is when the police, lancashire police, released this statement, could we start off with that statement?— statement, could we start off with that statement? that is right. there was a lot of— that statement? that is right. there was a lot of police _ that statement? that is right. there was a lot of police activity _ that statement? that is right. there was a lot of police activity here, - that statement? that is right. there was a lot of police activity here, i i was a lot of police activity here, i noticed a helicopterjust after midday, focusing on a particular area and hovering quite close to the river wyre. as a result there was that police activity, and that statement from luggage police will be said that it confirmed around

11:36am, they arrived here, close to the centre of the village, about half a mile from the centre, perhaps a mile from where nicola's phone and dog was found, they say that they attended reports of a body found, an underwater search team and specialist officers were subsequently attended the scene come into the water and then sadly recovered a body. they say no formal identification has yet been carried out, so they are unable to say whether this is nicola at this time, procedures to identify the body are ongoing, they are currently treating this death as unexplained and they say nicola's family have been informed of developments and that their thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times. the their thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times. $11th their thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times.— most difficult of times. a lot of attention and _ most difficult of times. a lot of attention and scrutiny, - most difficult of times. a lot of attention and scrutiny, we - most difficult of times. a lot of| attention and scrutiny, we have most difficult of times. a lot of - attention and scrutiny, we have just heard that from mark and others on the programme today, intense

pressure on the police, i wonder if i could take you to reaction from the home secretary, suella braverman, who hasjust tweeted, we can read that out to our viewers, saying... yunus, what issues, what questions, what criticisms have lancashire police come under during this ongoing investigation? indie police come under during this ongoing investigation? we are almost three weeks into _ ongoing investigation? we are almost three weeks into this _ ongoing investigation? we are almost three weeks into this missing - three weeks into this missing persons investigation. they called us all in, members of the media, and in that news conference revealed that from the very beginning they