POLICE are yet to interview disgraced ex-doctor Graeme Reeves – dubbed the Butcher of Bega – about allegations he was responsible for deaths and the mutilation of scores of patients.

Assistant Commissioner David Hudson said "all evidence'', involving hundreds of potential victims, had to be gathered and assessed before any action could be taken against the former obstetrician and gynaecologist.

The number of deaths linked to Dr Reeves rose in the past week from 15 to at least 17, including 10 babies and seven women.

Mr Hudson refused to divulge whether police had even located Dr Reeves yet.

The doctor has not been seen since The Sunday Telegraph confronted him at his Castle Hill home on February 23.

Mr Hudson would not reveal whether any measures had been taken to prevent Dr Reeves from leaving the country.

"Generally, in investigations of historical circumstances, all evidence needs to be legally gathered and assessed by police, prior to consideration being given to any action, like the laying of charges or seeking an interview with a person of interest,'' he said. "Failure to follow this process can seriously jeopardise a criminal investigation.''

Strike Force Tarella, made up of 12 core detectives from the Child Protection and Sex Crimes Squad and far south coast local area command, was established on February 27 to investigate hundreds of allegations of abuse and mutilation by Dr Reeves.

After more than two months of police silence on the investigation, which affects hundreds of victims, The Sunday Telegraph submitted a list of questions to Commissioner Andrew Scipione regarding the delay in laying charges and a controversial directive that victims contact detectives via Crime Stoppers.

Mr Scipione did not answer the questions, instead handing the responsibility over to Mr Hudson.

The Sunday Telegraph included questions regarding why victims were directed to make initial complaints with Crime Stoppers instead of one of the 12 Tarella detectives.

Lorraine Long, of the Medical Error Action Group, said victims were overwhelmingly positive about the way police handled their complaints.

However, it is understood some were baffled as to why they could not approach Strike Force Tarella directly and were directed to Crime Stoppers.

Mr Hudson said a number of calls had been received through Crime Stoppers, which operates 24 hours a day, and that the caller's contact details were then passed on to detectives.

"There has been no need, and there is no need, for intimate details to be canvassed with Crime Stoppers operators, as this information has and will be discussed during discreet face-to-face meetings with strike force detectives,'' Mr Hudson said.

The majority of victims had so far contacted police by visiting or calling Bega police station, while others had been referred to the strike force through government health agencies or the Medical Error Action Group, he said.

The Sunday Telegraph understands police have now been handed information about 17 people who died while under the care of Dr Reeves.

Most of the babies were classified as stillborns, meaning their deaths did not require further investigation or a death certificate. Some mothers have told police that they heard their babies cry after giving birth, but were told by Dr Reeves that they were "imagining'' it.

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