Private security firm is patrolling Nicola Bulley’s village after amateur detectives searched elderly residents’ gardens
A PRIVATE security firm is helping locals where Nicola Bulley vanished after sleuths swooped on the sleepy village.
Spencer Sutcliffe Security are carrying out daily and nightly patrols in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire.
It comes after armchair detectives flooded the village following Nicola’s disappearance two weeks ago.
The missing mum-of-two was last seen by the River Wyre at around 9.10am on January 27.
Owner Spencer Sutcliffe said: “When the residents rang me I thought what an awful situation they’re already got the horror of what’s happened, plus nobody knows what’s happened and then they’ve got all these people trampling through their gardens, going through their sheds.
“When they’re approached by some of the residents they’re becoming very aggressive towards them and it’s just not nice.
“So I’ve offered our services for free, I’ll pay the staff out of my own pocket and we’re just going to try and give the residents a bit of reassurance that there’s people out there looking after them and work alongside the police.
“We’re not trying to replace them in anyway but unfortunately, the police are understaffed and underfunded.”
Spencer said the influx of sleuths gripped by Nicola’s disappearance is causing “endless stress” to villagers and her family.
His team are sharing videos of their patrols on social media to urge people not to come to St Michael’s.
The security group wears a uniform and will have ID on them.
One woman told how her elderly parents have been plagued by urban explorers trampling in their garden.
She said her mum and dad, who are aged in their 80s, had to report the incident to the police.
The woman added: “It’s disgusting behaviour and hard for us to see these so-called urban explorers livestream it and for family members to see it happening, knowing our parents were inside.
“We also feel really sad we had to report it to the police as we were conscious of taking up the police’s valuable resources at such a difficult time.
“I was watching [one man’s] video miles away and it was my mum’s garden. I was horrified and felt helpless.
“I know other vulnerable people in the village are also suffering.”
Lancashire Police were yesterday forced to issue a dispersal notice to keep the public away.
It came after they received reports of amateur detectives filming close to residents’ homes and sharing footage on social media.
The order, which came into force at 8.40pm yesterday and lasts for at least 48 hours, gives officers extra powers to break up groups committing anti-social behaviour.
The force also threatened to take action over trolls making “grossly offensive” comments online.
A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: “We hope that will give people some reassurance that we will not tolerate criminality, including trespass and criminal damage.
“We are also aware of a number of grossly offensive comments being made on social media and elsewhere.
“We are looking into these and will not hesitate to take action where appropriate.”