Police have increased the reward to £20,000 for information leading to the whereabouts of Alexander Sloley, who vanished in August 2008. Sloley was 16 at the time of his disappearance, just days before his 17th birthday, and his family has had no contact with him since.
Described as a light-skinned Black male, 5 feet 5 inches tall with a medium build and striking blue eyes, Sloley was reportedly being exploited by gangs in the north London area and coerced into criminality at the time he went missing. Authorities hope the increased reward, up from £10,000 offered last March, will encourage individuals who may have been similarly exploited to come forward.
At the time of his disappearance, Sloley, an accountancy student at City and Islington College, had little money, no wallet, and no bag with extra clothes, suggesting he did not plan to run away, police stated previously. His family and friends reported him missing on August 8, 2008, prompting an investigation that included reviewing CCTV footage and making public appeals.
Over the years, the public has provided hundreds of reports of potential sightings, none of which have led to locating Sloley. To aid the public, an image of how he may have looked as an adult has been released, alongside a photograph from around the time he disappeared.
Detective Chief Inspector Sarb Kaur, leading the investigation, emphasized the ongoing efforts to find Alex and support his family, who have sought answers for 18 years. "We are aware that at the time he went missing, Alex was a victim of exploitation and was being coerced into criminality by gangs in the area," Kaur stated. "We are looking to speak with anyone who believes they were exploited by gangs in North London around 2008 and may have seen Alex or have information to contact us. You will not be in trouble, but you may hold key information which could help us piece the jigsaw together."
Kaur added that allegiances can change over time and expressed hope that the substantial reward could prompt someone with information to come forward. Despite numerous reviewed reports of sightings, investigators have not yet found the information needed to locate him. Police are continuing to share images of Sloley, both from when he went missing and an estimation of how he may look now at age 34.
In 2019, an e-fit of Sloley at age 27 was released as part of a renewed investigation. At the time, his mother, Nerissa Tivy, described the e-fit as an emotional depiction of her son as an adult. "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," she said. "I would love to see him walk through the door."
Individuals previously questioned in connection with Sloley's disappearance were re-interviewed in 2019. Detectives then stated there was no proof he had been harmed and no evidence linking his case to other incidents. Detective Constable Tom Boon expressed hope in 2019 that Sloley was safe and had managed to remain off the grid, though he acknowledged the increasing concern over time, despite the lack of evidence of harm.
Those with information are urged to contact the investigation team directly by phone or text at 07860 369 603, or by calling 101 or submitting information online. Anonymity can be maintained by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.