What is a high risk missing person and what are specific vulnerabilities?

LANCASHIRE police revealed mum Nicola Bulley was deemed a "high risk" missing person based on "specific vulnerabilities".

But what exactly does this mean? Here is everything we know.

What is a high risk missing person?

If someone is named as a "high risk" missing person it means that the police believe there is a real and immediate threat to the safety of either them or to the public.

The level of risk is assessed based on the person's "vulnerabilities" and the circumstances of their disappearance.

For example, elderly people or children might attract a higher risk rating as they are more vulnerable.

Circumstances that would provoke a higher category include a suspicion of murder or the person having financial, employment or relationship problems.

What are the categories of risk for missing persons?

There three risk categories for missing persons: low, medium and high.

Each of these indicates the level of danger to the person or the public.

Low suggests no apparent threat, while medium indicates a possible threat.

High means that the threat is both "real and immediate" according to Suffolk Police's website.

How does being high risk affect a missing person search?

Police will deploy resources immediately in the search for a high-risk missing person.

They will only delay in exceptional circumstances, such as searching water or forested areas in the dark.

A senior officer will be involved in the pursuit of all initial lines of inquiry and the Missing Persons Bureau will be notified immediately, as will child services if the person is under 18.

Cops will put in place a media strategy and cooperate with outside agencies closesly.

They will also provide support to the family where appropriate.

Why is Nicola Bulley a high risk missing person?

Detectives revealed that Nicola was deemed high risk because she struggled with "vulnerabilities", including "serious issues with alcohol".

Police said these issues are understood to have been related to issues she had during the menopause due to information provided by her partner.

Police said: "We have described how Nicola had some vulnerabilities at the time she went missing and we just wanted to expand on that a little.

"Sadly, it is clear from speaking to Paul and the family that 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.

"As a result of those issues, a response car staffed by both police and health professionals attended a report of concern for welfare at Nicola’s home address on January 10.

"No one has been arrested in relation to this incident, but it is being investigated.

"It is an unusual step for us to take to go into this level of detail about someone’s private life, but we felt it was important to clarify what we meant when we talked about vulnerabilities to avoid any further speculation or misinterpretation."