TWO of the state's most senior police have met with the strike force hunting Malcolm Naden, amid a renewed push to get him behind bars.
Deputy Commissioner Nick Kaldas and Acting Deputy Commissioner Dave Hudson spoke with officers yesterday and received a briefing from the taskforce that has been working ''day in, day out'' since before Christmas to catch Naden.
Naden has been on the run since disappearing from his grandparents' home in west Dubbo in 2005.
Just before he vanished, his cousin and mother-of-two Kristy Scholes was found strangled in his bedroom, and Naden is also a suspect in the disappearance of another cousin, Lateesha Nolan.
He has evaded police since then, but in December last year he is alleged to have shot and wounded an officer during a raid on a remote campsite near the village of Nowendoc.
Naden continues to evade all attempts to arrest him, but this week police have confirmed he recently stole a semi-automatic rifle and ammunition from a property in the area.
Assistant Commissioner Carlene York, who heads Strike Force Durkin, told the Herald the ''extensive briefing'' with the top brass was useful and confirmed they explored ''innovative strategies'' for the investigation.
''I'm using so many resources from both of their areas [of the force] … both are very committed to continuing with the search.''
Assistant Commissioner York said she was focused on getting Naden behind bars but the safety risk to her officers was a major consideration. ''He's an armed and dangerous offender.''
