The County Hall in Preston, where the Nicola Bulley death inquest has just begun and has been given additional security.
The mother-of-two’s spouse and sister are scheduled to testify at the building in the city centre where pathologist Dr. Alison Armour determined the cause of death to be drowning.
Security around the inquest has to be stepped up to “ensure the safety of everyone attending the inquest” since interest in how the 45-year-old died had been so intense.
Additional security plans were made by police and the county council, and more officers were seen patrolling the area.
Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire, warned attendees not to disrupt the proceedings – set to last at least five days – after ‘unusual online commentary’ about Ms Bulley’s death.
‘If anybody has the slightest inclination or is contemplating disrupting this inquest they should be aware this may amount to contempt of court,’ he said.
The coroner added that the consequences could be ‘a significant fine or prison’.
A number of people who turned up to the inquest without registering in advance have already been refused entry.
Nicola disappeared after dropping her daughters at school, then taking her usual dog walk along the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, on January 27.
It was more than three weeks later, on February 19, that her body was pulled out of the water despite extensive searches by divers.
The mystery surrounding her case sparked intense public interest as her mobile was found on a bench overlooking the water.
During the search, detectives and her family had to repeatedly ask the public to show respect after strangers tried to get too close to the investigation.
They included one ‘ghoul’ who filmed police retrieving Nicola’s body from the water and then shared it online.