England: Alcohol addiction made public - criticism of police in missing persons case

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A police officer in Lancashire, England, walks past a poster for the missing woman

Photo: Peter Byrne / dpa

In a missing persons case in Lancashire, north-west England, the police's strategy of making the missing person's alcoholism public has drawn criticism.

The police announced on Wednesday evening that the 45-year-old had previously had serious problems with alcohol.

The alcohol addiction was a big challenge for her partner and the family with two daughters.

At a press conference, investigators described the woman as "at risk".

Conservative MP Alicia Kearns tweeted that she couldn't see how this would help investigators in their search.

"But I can very well see how it benefits those who want to blame or denigrate the victim," wrote the politician.

Opposition Labor MP Stella Creasy called the decision to make such personal information public "very disturbing".

There was also objection from experts: Former investigator Martyn Underhill told the broadcaster “Sky News” on Thursday that he was “confused” about the strategy.

"I don't see how this is supposed to move the case after three weeks." He understands that some people see the police action as an attempt to blame the victim and destroy the woman's reputation.

After the criticism, the Lancashire Police referred themselves to the responsible police authority to have the case examined.

The cell phone was found - the woman was not

The search for the 45-year-old has been busy in the country for weeks.

The woman has been missing since January 27.

She had dropped off her nine- and six-year-old daughters at school in the village of St Michael's on Wyre that morning and then walked her dog.

At 9 a.m., the mortgage advisor took part in a business call on her cell phone.

The call ended around 9:30 a.m. but she didn't log off.

Shortly thereafter, the dog and the cell phone were found by a river.

Since then there has been no trace of the woman.

Even the day-long deployment of divers was unsuccessful.

jso/dpa