Police will not charge anyone with helping Tom Phillips evade capture, they confirmed today.

This morning, police said while they still believe a small group of people had assisted Phillips, there was insufficient evidence to lay charges and the investigation, dubbed Operation Cranmere, had ended.

Under the Solicitor General’s Prosecution Guidelines, any prosecution is required to meet an evidential sufficiency test, Detective Superintendent Ross McKay said.

“In this case, based on current admissible evidence, that test has not been met and police will not be filing any charges,” the officer said.

“We have always said that we believe Phillips was assisted by a small group of people at varying stages.

“Charges may be possible at a later date, if or when further information comes to light.”

Police at the location of one of the campsites just off the Te Anga Road near Waitomo where Tom Phillips and his children have been hiding. Photo / Dean Purcell

The Phillips family were notified of the outcome this week, McKay said.

Police continue to support the Government inquiry into the disappearance of the Phillips children.

Phillips evaded custody, with his three young children, for nearly four years. During that time he defied a court order and engaged in various crimes, including bank robbery and stealing vehicles.

Up to four New Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS) operators – including expert trackers – were sent into remote bush country around Marokopa to search for Phillips.

The former fugitive died in the early hours of September 8 after entering into a shootout with police, during which he critically injured an officer.

Following his death, police stated they believed he had been helped while on the run.

McKay told the Herald in April that several people had been “spoken to” during the investigation.

One of Phillips' primary campsites. Photo / Police

Phillips’ parents, Neville and Julia Phillips, penned a letter to their local newspaper, King Country News, last October, which said they did not support his actions.

“We would like to send our sincere apology to all those in the Waitomo/Otorohanga districts, most especially those in the Marokopa/Te Anga community for all the trouble, inconvenience, loss of privacy and property caused by Tom,” the letter stated.

“We in no way supported him or agreed with any of his actions in the past four years.

“We are truly sorry for all you had to endure.”

The quad bike used by Tom Phillips as a getaway vehicle before he engaged in a shootout with police. Photo / Hayden Woodward.

The Phillips case divided the local Marokopa population, with some resenting what they felt were overbearing tactics by police during the long-running manhunt.

“They were treating everyone as if they were f***ing guilty, eh. Looking at you like ‘are you f***ing hiding him? Are you?’” one local whitebaiter, Sam, told the Herald last month.

“A lot of the people out here are retirees; there’s not many people out here. They’re either farmers or retirees.”