Victoria Police lift travel warning for Porepunkah as search for Dezi Freeman continues

Victoria Police have lifted their travel warning for the Porepunkah area as the large-scale search for alleged cop killer and sovereign citizen Dezi Freeman continues.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Russell Barrett delivered the major update on Sunday morning, saying the change to the travel advice had been decided to “allow the community to return to a state of normality.”

The police had earlier advised members of the public to avoid Porepunkah.

Deputy Commissioner Barrett stressed, however, that the police continued to focus on the area around Porepunkah in the ongoing manhunt for Mr Freeman.

The suspected sovereign citizen is believed to have shot and killed Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart on August 26 on a property outside the small Victorian town in the state’s northeast.

He also allegedly wounded a third officer in the shooting.

Freeman, also known as Desmond Filby, fled into bushland on foot after the shooting.

Both Constable de Waart-Hottart, 34, and Constable Thompson, 59, died at the scene.

Hundreds of specialist police have fanned out across the dense terrain since the shooting to try and capture Mr Freeman.

The police have also offered a $1m reward for information that leads to the capture of the man.

Deputy Commissioner Barrett said police had scoured “incredibly rugged areas” during the search, including crawling through caves and navigating rivers, falls and plantations.

“It’s an extensive area, really difficult terrain,” he said.

In early September, Superintendent Brett Kahan said “people know” where the fugitive might be hiding.

On Sunday, Deputy Commissioner Barrett said the police were open to “all options” regarding Mr Freeman’s whereabouts.

“He may be in the area, he may be harboured, he may be dead,” the policeman said.

More to come.