Dominic Perrottet defends ‘phenomenal’ police work in William Tyrrell investigation

The NSW Premier says detectives searching for William Tyrrell are doing a ‘phenomenal’ job’ after the top cop criticised part of the investigation.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says he is not concerned by the top cop’s assertion that detectives “wasted” time in the early phases of investigating William Tyrrell’s baffling disappearance.

Police Commissioner Mick Fuller on Tuesday said detectives had inherited “a bit of a mess” of an investigation that had initially “wasted” time pursuing individuals who were “clearly” not linked to the crime.

“The investigation was looking at some persons of interest that were clearly not, and I think some time was wasted on that, and bushland is overgrown,” Mr Fuller told 2GB radio.

However, he confirmed there had been a major breakthrough in the case and said he was confident it could now be solved.

Mr Perrottet was asked about Mr Fuller’s remarks on Wednesday, to which he said police “are doing a phenomenal job”.

“The signs and the reporting today is, from my perspective, very encouraging,” he told reporters.

“This whole tragedy is heartbreaking, and hopefully what we’re seeing from the work our police are doing is that we’ll get a breakthrough shortly.”

A vehicle is undergoing forensic examination after being seized by Strike Force Rosann.

William was three when he vanished from his foster grandmother’s home in Kendall, on the NSW mid-north coast, in 2014.

He has never been found despite several searches over the past seven years and a coronial inquest, which remains open.

Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon, who spoke to reporters with Mr Perrottet on Wednesday morning, said detectives would not stop until they had investigated every possible lead.

“What I can say is that the investigation is part of the dogged determination of investigators and we will leave no stone unturned to do that,” he said.

Police have homed in on one person of interest in the case and said they were now looking for William’s remains

Several members of the Australian Federal Police’s forensics unit have been deployed to Kendall to assist NSW investigators in the ongoing search.

Police at the Kendall home as they conduct their search. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

A car reported to be linked to the boy’s foster family was seized at Gymea in Sydney’s south by police investigating on Wednesday morning.

It is set to undergo forensic analysis, which could take several weeks.

NSW Police on Monday scoured the yard at the home where William went missing as they probe whether he fell from a balcony at the property.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said the AFP specialist unit would join the search on Wednesday morning.

“Today there are specialists from the AFP forensics unit that have been deployed to Kendall and they will start a very targeted search of several key locations today,” she told 4BC.

Police have focused in on the garden bed outside the Kendall home. Picture: NSW Police

“It is great news that the AFP are now part of the search … Hopefully there is going to be a breakthrough, very, very soon.”

Asked if the federal police were the key to the latest search, the minister remained coy.

“I can’t go into detail of that but I can tell you that the AFP have been engaged in security searches and providing advice in a very timely and appropriate manner.”

“My understanding is, from the investigators, is that there is certainly one person in particular that we are looking closely at.”

William has been missing since 2014.

Overnight, Detectives conducted testing of the balcony and garden bed to determine if there were any traces of blood.

Luminol, the chemical sprayed across several search sites, reacts with haemoglobin in blood and reveal traces of blood even seven years later.

Additional searches are taking place in the area surrounding William’s foster grandmother’s house and a bushland site.

Originally published as Dominic Perrottet defends ‘phenomenal’ police work in William Tyrrell investigation