Martyn Underhill told Sky News that he had never "seen such a level of detail" released in a missing persons case and added that one had to ask why officers were releasing it now.

Ms Bulley has been missing since 27 January after vanishing when she took her dog for a walk by the River Wyre in Lancashire.

Speaking to Kay Burley, Mr Underhill, who was a detective involved in the Sarah Payne case, said: "If they had released that on day one, it would completely changed the dynamic and the coverage of this story and, perhaps, prevented it becoming the juggernaut story it now is.

"I'm confused why they've done what they've done now.

"You can understand why some people are saying it's victim blaming to protect their own reputation.

"I can't see how it progresses the case any further forward now we're three weeks in, to be frank."

Having apparently found no trace of the mother-of-two for more than 20 days, police yesterday revealed that they had classified Ms Bulley as "high risk" owing to "a number of specific vulnerabilities".

After initially refusing to elaborate on what those vulnerabilities were at a press conference, Lancashire Police subsequently released a statement saying: "Nicola had in the past suffered with some significant issues with alcohol which were brought on by her ongoing struggles with the menopause and that these struggles had resurfaced over recent months."

"This caused some real challenges for Paul and the family," it added in a reference to Ms Bulley's partner, Paul Ansell.

The police also revealed that they had been at Ms Bulley's house the week before she disappeared to check her welfare which Mr Underhill agreed this would have suggested another line of inquiry.

He said: "Particularly since they say it was a police car with police and health professionals, the subtext of that is that this was a mental health car.

"Clearly this wasn't a domestic abuse scenario or a drunken person scenario it was a mental health incident which Nicola was suffering.

"That is crucial, really, I'm amazed it hasn't been released before and, of course, on 3 February in their press conference they actually said there were 'no significant issues involving Nicola's health'.

"I can understand in some ways why they didn't release it then as it would completely destroy her reputation.

"It's a big move to take but if you aren't going to take it at the start of the investigation, why do it now?"