Police have offered £10,000 for anyone with information about a teenage boy who went missing 17 years ago.
Alexander Sloley, from Islington, north London, was 16 when he vanished in August 2008 and his family and friends have had no contact with him since then.
Police previously said the accountancy student at City and Islington College had little cash, no wallet, no bag, and extra garments to demonstrate he was preparing to run away.
He was described as a light-skinned black male, 5ft 5ins tall, of medium build, with striking blue eyes.
Detective Chief Inspector Sarb Kaur, who is leading the investigation, said, ‘Alex was reported missing to police on August 8, 2008. Since then, extensive enquiries have been made by police, but sadly, Alex has not yet been found.
‘We are now offering a reward of up to £10,000 for anyone who has information relating to Alex’s whereabouts.
‘This remains an active missing person investigation, subject to regular review by senior officers, with the aim of locating Alex and bringing some comfort to his family.
‘We have recently met with Alex’s mother to outline how we intend to progress our investigation to find him.
‘I would ask anyone with information who could help to please get in contact immediately, no matter how insignificant you think this could be.’
In 2019, police released an e-fit of what Alex may have looked like at age 27 as part of a reopening of the inquiry.
At the time, his mother, Nerissa Tivy, said it was emotional to see the e-fit of her son as an adult.
She said: ‘It’s a great picture of Alex and of how he might possibly look like now. Then you try to put a body to it and how he might be dressed and looking.
‘He was quite a slick dresser, my son, he wasn’t scruffy.
‘There’s no closure to this and, with all the appeals and knowing your child would not just run away, you start thinking something terrible has happened to him.
‘I would love to see him walk through the door.’
People quizzed previously in connection with Alex’s disappearance were re-interviewed in 2019.
At the time detectives said there was no proof Alex had been harmed and there was no evidence that it was linked to any other cases.
Detective Constable Tom Boon said in 2019: ‘The hope is he is safe and well and somehow has managed to stay off the radar in terms of using bank accounts, passports, that sort of thing.
‘As time goes on it becomes more and more concerning, although there’s no proof of harm.’
Police have asked anyone with information about Alexander’s disappearance to get in touch with them on 07860 369603 or through Crimestoppers.
If the police had any information, it would be beneficial to disclose it.
For the family to have closure, every missing person deserves a second inquiry in the hopes of discovering them, even if it is only their remains, although the chances of finding him alive are extremely small.
However, with improved databases and forensic capabilities, this cold case will be solved.
Cold cases are frequently reopened by the police; possibly they have fresh information.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 