Amid Nicola Bulley case Shelagh Fogarty comments on diminishing trust for the police force

17 February 2023, 16:29

Shelagh speaks about public distrust in the police.

By James Spry

Shelagh Fogarty sheds light on public distrust in police search and rescue services in the Nicola Booley case.

Shelagh Fogarty spoke to listeners about the police handling of the Nicola Bulley investigation, saying that public distrust in the police is at an all-time low "since the murder of Sarah Everard".

"We've learnt so much about the police in the last year... following the investigations into the Met... all of us can stand in the shoes of someone whose loved one has gone missing," Shelagh said.

Shelagh threw shade at the police's search and rescue operation saying: "I can't square why they didn't say at the beginning... 'please treat her as a missing person'." Instead they just "decided" she was in the river.

Shelagh's comments follow the news that Lancashire police will be asked to defend their disclosure of Nicola's health issues after they made public her struggles with alcohol and menopause.

Read More: 'We need a breakthrough': Nicola Bulley's father tells of 'daily struggle' as hunt enters fourth week

In a statement released on Wednesday, Lancashire Police said Ms Bulley had suffered from "some significant issues with alcohol" and "ongoing struggles with the menopause" as it turned out they had visited her property prior to her disappearance.

Even Home Secretary Suella Braverman has made her objection to the police's disclosure of sensitive information known. A Home Office spokesperson released a statement saying: "The Home Secretary and Policing Minister are receiving regular updates from Lancashire Police on its handling of this case, including why personal information about Nicola was briefed out at this stage of the investigation."

Read More: 'Time will tell' if Lancashire Police was right to release Nicola Bulley's problems, Britain's top cop says

Police look in river for Nicola Bulley
Police look in river for Nicola Bulley. Picture: alamy

Shelagh's comments also bring into light a general waning in police trust following incidents involving Met policemen Wayne Cozens and David Carrick. As well as recent figures show that 10,200 complaints were made against Met policemen by members of the public between 1st January and 9th December last year.

Shelagh makes clear this distrust has perhaps fuelled the online speculation surrounding the Bulley case making it particularly difficult to solve.

Read More: Nicola Bulley's family 'in pieces' as search expert shocked at cops telling public about her alcohol struggles

More Shelagh Fogarty News

See more More Shelagh Fogarty News

'It makes me angry, it's a bit rich from him'

Jay accuses Robert Jenrick of using youngsters' poverty to chase clicks from the far-right

'How do you get Hamas out? We didn't get the IRA out...'

LBC caller from Northern Ireland warns trauma will perpetuate conflict in Middle East

LBC Caller: 'At least we know where we stand with Reform'

LBC Caller: 'At least we know where we stand with Reform'

LBC callers react to the local election results

LBC callers react to the local election results

Caller Heidi

Caller Heidi can't understand why the Ukraine minerals deal has taken the US so long

LBC caller reveals she was ignored by police when she reported elder abuse of her parents

LBC caller reveals she was ignored by police when she reported elder abuse of her parents

'Unreasonable' of IOPC to hold gross misconduct hearing into Chris Kaba's killer

LBC caller: 'Unreasonable' of IOPC to hold gross misconduct hearing into Chris Kaba's killer

Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle takes part in the Call the Cabinet phone-in on LBC hosted by Shelagh Fogarty.

Online safety laws not up for negotiation in deal to exempt Britain from Donald Trump's tariff plan, Tech Secretary tells LBC

"Pretty terrifying day": Wes Streeting sends "heart out" to those affected as three dead at care home.

'Pretty terrifying day': Wes Streeting sends 'heart out' to affected as three dead at Dorset care home

The Princess of Wales says she edited the photograph that was released to mark Mother's Day.

The insistence that we see Kate is tantamount to stalking, writes Shelagh Fogarty

Caller tells Shelagh his solution to illegal immigration.

LBC caller tells Shelagh Fogarty that the Channel islands are the answer to 'illegal immigration'

'Rishi Sunak chooses to do the self interested party politics': Shelagh Fogarty reflects on Tories' immigration policies

'Rishi Sunak chooses to do the self-interested party politics': Shelagh Fogarty reflects on Tories' migration policies

Shelagh Fogarty

Former Treasury official outlines 'three immediate priorities' likely to be reflected in Autumn Statement

Shelagh Fogarty

Suella Braverman's hardline crime bill seems like she's ‘interviewing' for career at ‘pathetic’ news channels, says caller

Shelagh and caller Sam

Anti-Semitic chants and actions 'delegitimize' pro-Palestinian cause asserts this Shelagh Fogarty caller

Shelagh and Ricardo Dos Santos

'It's sickening': Ricardo Dos Santos speaks to Shelagh Fogarty as two officers sacked over stop and search