Deputy Commissioner Nick Kaldas and Acting Deputy Commissioner Dave Hudson spoke with officers on Tuesday and received a briefing from the taskforce that has been working “day in, day out” since before Christmas to catch Naden.

Mr Wilson said news Naden had stolen a semi-automatic .22 rifle had added a degree of urgency in the need to get the wanted man into custody and into the judicial system. He said if Naden died in a shootout with police specialists then the families of his alleged victims would not receive any closure.

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 young woman, 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 said 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.’’