Outback police scale down search

Mr Falconio and his girlfriend were backpacking

Police searching the Australian outback for missing British backpacker Peter Falconio are scaling down their search.

Detectives believe Mr Falconio, 28, and his girlfriend Joanne Lees, 27, were ambushed by a gunman as they drove along a remote road near Barrow Creek, 175 miles outside Alice Springs, on 14 July.

But despite a two month investigation, police still have no prime suspect.

There was a need to get on with other business about the Northern Territory

John Daulby
Northern Territory Police

The number of officers working on the case has been reduced from 35 to 14, the Northern Territory Police said.

The force denies the inquiry has reached a standstill and insists that the reduced investigation task force would be examining information already received by the police.

Assistant Police Commissioner John Daulby said resources had been a key factor.

"The critical issue is in respect of the current workload - there was a need to get on with other business about the Northern Territory.

"Sure we have scaled it down to a significant number - which is 15 - in territory terms.

Victim escaped

"But we can ramp it up quicker than we can scale it down."

Miss Lees was tied up during the roadside ambush but escaped and hid in the bush to evade her captor.

Mr Falconio, of Hepworth, West Yorkshire, is still missing, presumed dead.

I don't think that they're going to catch him unless someone hands him in or he does something again

Jennifer James
Miss Lees' mother

Blood matching Mr Falconio's was found at the ambush scene and it is thought he may have been shot by the gunman.

A £90,000 reward was offered for information leading to the attacker's arrest.

A spokeswoman for the Northern Territory Police added: "Initially there were about 100 officers working on the case to run the road blocks.

"Once that was stopped we didn't need so many officers.

"I wouldn't say that we are out of leads. We've had about 800 calls and we're in the process of following up the information we have received.

Vast area

"It's accurate to say we haven't named a prime suspect but we have been able to eliminate some suspects from our inquiries."

Miss Lees' mother, Jennifer James, said she understood the reasons for scaling down the search but was disappointed.

She said: "Obviously we would like hundreds of police searching for Peter, but the area is just so vast, you just can't do it forever.

"I don't think that they're going to catch him unless someone hands him in or he does something again.

"I just wish they could get this man. I think about it all the time."