A former police negotiator says police would have had to take a balanced approach to finding Marokopa fugitive Tom Phillips and his three children.

They've revealed today they spent thousands of hours searching for him but knew it was unlikely he would surrender easily.

Former Police negotiator Lance Burdett told Ryan Bridge they probably didn't want to overplay their hand. 

He says it was a balancing act between causing physical, emotional or psychological distress to the children.

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