I have known Abraham Badru’s parents since I was a child.

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That is why the news that the Metropolitan Police has paused active work on the investigation into his murder struck such a personal chord. But this goes beyond one family’s tragedy. For victims of crime across London, it raises fundamental questions about justice, accountability and the confidence that, no matter how much time has passed, the search for answers will continue.

Abraham was just 26 when he was shot dead in Hackney in March 2018. He was a young man formally recognised by the Met for his courage, after he intervened to stop the gang rape of a teenage girl in Hackney and gave evidence in court. His cooperation led to the conviction of the teenage rapists. Yet more than eight years on, nobody has been charged with his murder. For his family, that means eight years without answers, accountability or the closure they deserve.

According to recent reporting, Abraham’s family were told that active investigative work had been paused because of resourcing pressures. But that raises an important question for London: what happens when there simply aren't enough officers and investigators to keep every case moving, even though the Mayor of London has asked for more funding for policing?

The Met's........

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