Ofcom has contacted Sky and ITV about complaints made by the family of Nicola Bulley that the broadcasters intruded on their grief when they had asked for privacy after her body was found.The broadcasting regulator said it was “extremely concerned” to hear the comments from the family of Bulley, whose body was identified on Monday after being pulled from a Lancashire river after a near month-long search.The frank statement by the family, which was read by police at a press conference on Monday evening, named the two broadcasters specifically and called for the media and public to be “held accountable” for what had been an “appalling” experience.An Ofcom spokesperson said: “We are extremely concerned to hear the comments made by the family of Nicola Bulley about two broadcast licensees. We have written to ITV and Sky to ask them to explain their actions. We will then assess whether any further action is required.”The family’s statement condemned the media and the public, who had “accused [Paul Ansell, Bulley’s partner] of wrongdoing, misquoted and vilified friends and family”.The statement said: “This is absolutely appalling, they have to be held accountable. This cannot happen to another family.“We tried last night [Monday] to take in what we had been told in the day, only to have Sky News and ITV making contact with us directly when we expressly asked for privacy.“They again have taken it upon themselves to run stories about us to sell papers and increase their own profiles. It is shameful they have acted in this way. Leave us alone now.“Do the press and other media channels and so-called professionals not know when to stop? These are our lives and our children’s lives.”The Guardian understands that Sky believed there had been an open, two-way dialogue with the family and the police since Bulley was reported missing.ITV said: “As a responsible broadcaster, we will cooperate fully and respond in detail to Ofcom’s request for information.“We express sincere condolences to the family at this difficult time and we will not be commenting further.”
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