Cleo Smith investigation: WA Police had a secret war room

This is where a crack team of WA Police spent 18 days working on thousands of tips, wild theories and drone footage to find Cleo Smith.

Western Australia police had been anticipating a “long haul” investigation into the disappearance of Cleo Smith, and the operation task force was poised to move into larger premises when she was discovered, it has been revealed.

Operation Rodia had established a “war room” in the Carnarvon police station, but as dozens of officers joined the investigation over the past two and a half weeks, some had to be accommodated in a large van adjacent to the building.

Cleo Smith with mother Ellie and step-father Jake Gliddon in Carnarvon. Picture: Colin Murty

It was in a meeting room in the 2015-architect designed building that the police pored over their intelligence – including photos, drone footage taken at the Blowholes campsite and records of hundreds of interviews – hoping to find a lead. Calls for public assistance prompted hundreds of calls, with many apparent mistaken sightings of the four year old. Would-be “psychics” also offered their insights.

WA Premier Mark McGowan addresses the police inside the police station. Picture: The West Australian

Photos of the temporary task force office revealed a cramped workspace, with officers virtually shoulder to shoulder at their laptops and desktop computers.

But as the investigation moved into its third week, police believed they needed a larger, more permanent base, and had identified two floors of a government building as a suitable site for their new war room. Furniture to equip the new space was reportedly due to arrive today.

Mark McGowan, addresses the police inside the station. Picture: The West Australian

About 100 officers were seconded to Operation Rodia, the task force which was announced five days after Cleo disappeared, and headed up by 40-year police veteran Detective superintendent Rod Wilde.

Federal law enforcement officers were also deployed to aid the investigation.

As part of the investigation, officers collected and viewed CCTV footage collected from a wide area – everything from motels and camping grounds to service stations and children’s clothing stores.

Forensic swabs were also taken from other campers at the Blowholes site and tested as a routine part of the investigation.