Police officers involved in the controversial Jay Abatan murder inquiry could face disciplinary action.

A total of 57 inconsistencies, failures and inexplicable decisions were highlighted in the original police investigation.

It has now emerged that disciplinary action is being considered against officers as Mr Abatan's killer still remains at large.

No one has been held to account for his killing, to the anger of his relatives, who have criticised the police investigation into his death.

They went to London yesterday to see a summary of a report into Sussex Police's failed investigation but were told it had not been prepared.

They met the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) to discuss the findings of the report by Avon and Somerset Police.

However, although the IPCC released the 300-page report to Sussex Police, the force has decided to allow Mr Abatan's family to see only an edited version.

The force says the full report will not be released yet because questions remain over whether disciplinary action will be taken against officers.

The IPCC said disclosure of Avon and Somerset's detailed findings could jeopardise any possible disciplinary procedures.

Mr Abatan's family said the force appeared to be suppressing criticism of itself.

His brother Michael, 38, said: "We believe Sussex Police are hiding something and we want them to be as open as possible.

"In June 2000, then home secretary Jack Straw told the family he was satisfied Sussex were being thorough in their investigations.

"We were misled by that and we want to know why.

"Sussex Police apologised publicly for their failings but we still do not know why."

Accountant Mr Abatan, 42, was punched to the ground outside the Ocean Rooms nightclub in Morley Street, Brighton, on January 24, 1999.

He fell into a coma and died from head injuries five days later at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Two men were charged with manslaughter but the charges were dropped due to lack of evidence.

Both men were later charged with affray causing actual bodily harm to Michael Abatan but were acquitted at trial.

Following complaints from the family about the original police investigation, an inquiry by Essex Police highlighted 57 areas of concern.

Sussex Police publicly apologised for their errors and a second independent inquiry, by Avon and Somerset Police, led to Michael Abatan holding discussions with the chief constable.

A £175,000 reward remains in place for information leading to a conviction in the case of Mr Abatan, from Meads, Eastbourne.

The Abatan family was joined in London yesterday by Conservative MP for Worthing West Peter Bottomley, who also urged Sussex Police to release the full report.

In a statement, Sussex Police said Chief Constable Ken Jones fully accepted the family was entitled to a full account of the inquiry and a meeting with a chief officer to discuss it.

However, that could not happen yet because questions remained unresolved about whether any disciplinary action would be brought.