Editors have called for a ‘reset’ in relations between the police and media following a wide-ranging review of the handling of the Nicola Bulley case.

The College of Policing has today published its review into Lancashire Police’s handling of the investigation into disappearance of the mother-of-two on 27 January this year.

The review found that the force’s failure to brief the media on Ms Bulley’s vulnerabilities at an early stage of the investigation allowed speculation on social media to run unchecked.

The Society of Editors, which submitted evidence to the review, is now calling for changes to CoP guidance, requiring forces to routinely consider giving background briefings to accredited journalists during high-profile and fast-moving investigations.

How the Lancashire Post covered the inquest verdict on Nicola Bulley

Today’s report also found that relations between the police and the media remain ‘fractured’ and that action is needed to ‘rebuild’ and strengthen it for the benefit of the public.

SoE executive director Dawn Alford said: “The College of Policing’s review rightly recognises that urgent action is needed to re-set and rebuild the relationship between the police and the media which, for too long, has been mired by wrongful perceptions and mistrust.

“As was evident during the investigation into Ms Bulley’s disappearance, the rise of social media now means that, unlike content published by regulated news platforms, misinformation and conspiracy theories have the power to spread like wildfire.

“Where there is a vacuum of information, this can be filled by social media speculation and conspiracy theories.

“Following today’s publication, the College should now look to review its national guidance on police and media relations and include a requirement for all forces to routinely consider giving background briefings to accredited journalists during high-profile and fast-moving investigations.

“Such briefings can be hugely beneficial in not only assisting the police in communicating information to the public but also allow newsrooms to make informed decisions on how best to frame coverage as well as countering false information that may be circulating elsewhere.”

The CoP review was commissioned earlier this year by Andrew Snowden, the Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner.

Among its other findings, it criticised the use of a police spokesperson to read out a statement on behalf of Ms Bulley’s family containing criticism of the media which, the review concluded, ‘failed to draw a distinction between mainstream media and social media’.

Added Dawn: “A successful working relationship between police forces and journalists remains essential to policing legitimacy and, in order to restore public confidence, the College must now work with the industry to usher in a new era of communication and co-operation which promotes an assumption of trust between officers and journalists as well as more trusted dialogue.”

“The Society will now look to meet with policing bodies to discuss the review’s findings in more detail and explore how we might work together to re-set this important relationship.”