Nicola Bulley: Underwater search expert Peter Faulding criticised in review of missing mother case

An underwater search expert who joined the search for missing Nicola Bulley has been criticised in a review of the police dealing with of the case.

The School of Policing report mentioned Lancashire Police felt some of Peter Faulding’s behaviour and actions “brought on challenges to the investigation”.

Mr Faulding, chief of underwater search specialists Specialist Group Worldwide (SGI), instructed media that police had “low-tech” diving tools, unlikely to have the ability to discover a physique.

Ms Bulley’s household grew to become conscious of this report and efforts have been made to contact SGI to assist the search and to ask police to get SGI concerned.

However police investigators have been suggested that SGI didn’t have any higher tools that might not be secured by the power.

Nonetheless, communication by Ms Bulley’s household buddy to police expressed a “sturdy message that refusal to make use of Mr Faulding and SGI” would consequence in a “damaging press launch to the media”.

The report mentioned Lancashire Constabulary felt it was positioned in an unenviable scenario, which might result in a widespread damaging notion that the power was not utilizing each alternative to find Ms Bulley, the report mentioned.

Lancashire Constabulary felt that this could undermine public belief and confidence and, due to this fact, subsequently agreed to permit the use of SGI to assist them in their search efforts and contacted Mr Faulding, who supplied his companies free of cost.

A chief inspector then met Mr Faulding to supply “appropriate, strong recommendation in regards to the data he’s passing to the media – unhelpful to the investigation, the household and wider group”.

The review mentioned Lancashire Police appeared to current him with a non-disclosure settlement (NDA) to not talk about the search with anybody outdoors the investigation.

However SGI responded that no “official” NDA had been mentioned or signed and, in truth, Mr Faulding and his crew felt “ambushed” by the press and had no assist from police so assumed his involvement with the media was “inside the phrases of engagement”.

Mr Faulding instructed the report authors that he was not suggested or supported with any media steerage by Lancashire Constabulary, that he didn’t obtain any instruction to not interact with press.

The report mentioned Mr Faulding had additionally knowledgeable the Bulley household that he thought he had recognized a physique deposition website (the situation or believed location website of a deceased physique).

As half of the review, Lancashire Constabulary advised this had brought on unwarranted misery and false alarm and resulted in the diversion of police assets to the household to treatment the scenario.

The report continues: “It’s the view of Lancashire Constabulary that Mr Faulding had a big impression on the investigation and public confidence by way of his actions and his engagement with the media.

“The review crew considers that some of his actions created a more difficult setting for the investigation crew.

“His public statements typically contradicted the investigative and operational strategy, resulting in confusion for the general public and lowering the household’s belief in the investigation and search operation.”

Mr Faulding and SGI have been contacted for remark.