Greater Manchester Police closed their criminal investigation Wednesday into Alex Batty’s six-year disappearance from Oldham, determining no prosecution can proceed after reviewing every available lead.

The probe launched when the boy resurfaced in Toulouse, France in December 2023 has ended with authorities concluding insufficient evidence exists to charge anyone, police confirmed. Both Alex, now an adult, and his grandmother Susan have been notified of the decision.

Detective Superintendent Matt Walker, who oversaw the year-long inquiry, said the force pursued the case at the family’s request despite ultimately finding “no realistic chance of criminal prosecution.”

“Alex and his safety has been at the forefront of our minds and actions since he was found in Toulouse, France in 2023,” Walker stated. “In our commitment to protecting children, we felt it was important that the circumstances of Alex’s disappearance be properly and thoroughly investigated.”

The senior officer noted his dedicated team consulted with the Crown Prosecution Service and National Crime Agency throughout the process before accepting the evidentiary limitations.

“Given this, the right thing to do is bring closure to this chapter of Alex and his family’s lives, particularly as this is the outcome they wished for,” Walker added. “Alex is now an adult, safe, and reintegrated with life back in Greater Manchester surrounded by those who love him, which ultimately is the priority.”

Batty vanished from Oldham sometime after September 30, 2017, triggering the investigation that spanned more than six years before his discovery in France.

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