Macquarie Region Commander, John Laycock, has began establishing Strike Force Tronto, formed to coordinate police investigations into NSW bushfires.

Strike Force Tronto will have two main areas of responsibility:

- to coordinate the Local Area Command response to criminal activity pertaining to bushfires, including reports of arson and looting; and

- to prepare a report for the information and attention of the NSW State Coroner looking at the causes and origins of fires.

While the structure of Strike Force Tronto is still being developed and relies on the extent of intelligence and evidence available, Commander Laycock said it will bring together specialist forensic and investigate resources from every affected region.

It will also work closely with other emergency services and agencies.

“The Strike Force will coordinate the investigate response by police and provide specialist assistance and experts to Local Area Commands as appropriate, while also looking at serial offenders and offences crossing jurisdictional boundaries,” Commander Laycock said.

“At this stage, police have yet to receive any confirmed reports of arson, but fire-fighting authorities have advised they believe a number of fires have been deliberately lit.

“Our priorities are gathering as much evidence, through intelligence and forensics, as possible.”

Members of the public are asked to report any incidents of property damage and loss to their local police, and any suspicious activity or possible suspects regarding the lighting of fires to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.