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The long-running manhunt for alleged double police murderer Dezi Freeman has turned its attention to an area about 100km away from where he was last seen.
The 56-year-old fled into dense bushland from the mountainous town about 300km northeast of Melbourne.
There have been no confirmed sightings of Freeman, with hundreds of police searching Porepunkah, surrounds and remote bushland to no avail.
Police confirmed on Wednesday they were in the Benalla area, about 100km west of Porepunkah, as part of a “planned operation”.
“There is no immediate risk to community safety,” it said in a statement.
“This forms part of the ongoing investigation in the Porepunkah area in the search for Desmond Freeman.”
Police zeroed in on a property at Goomalibee, northwest of Benalla, linked to a known associate of Freeman, Seven News reports.
A vehicle was also stopped by heavily armed police near Shepparton, with one person removed.
It is believed Freeman has not been found, with police providing no further comment on the operational activities.
The operation comes after the force confirmed the search had been scaled back, with police numbers falling from more than 400 to about 200.
Officers, including specialist teams from interstate and abroad, have searched more than 40 square kilometres of land by foot and air in the hunt for Freeman.
Police have received 1,400 pieces of information from the public and daily offers of resource support from commissioners around Australia and New Zealand.
Chief commissioner Mike Bush conceded the search was becoming more challenging as time wore on but said authorities remained determined.
“We will not give up until we find that person,” Bush told reporters on Monday.
“This has really damaged our police service and the community and we are determined to bring this matter to a conclusion.”
Mount Buffalo National Park remains closed but visitors have been allowed to return to Porepunkah.
People in the area have been advised to remain vigilant and not approach Freeman, who is considered armed and dangerous, if they spot him.
Victoria Police have offered a $1 million reward and the possibility of indemnity for information leading to his capture, the largest financial offer in the state’s history for facilitating an arrest.
Freeman’s wife Mali and a 15-year-old boy were previously arrested and released without charge.
