Liverpool’s Joe Anderson and Derek Hatton charged with bribery

Former Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson and metropolis politician Derek Hatton have been charged with bribery and misconduct referring to council contracts, together with 10 others, police have mentioned.

The costs come after a Merseyside Police probe, Operation Aloft, centered on various property builders.

Mr Anderson and Mr Hatton have been first arrested in 2020 as a part of an investigation into the awarding of constructing contracts.

Posting on X, the previous mayor urged folks in opposition to “falling into the lure of claiming no smoke with out hearth”.

He added: “I’m harmless of prices and can combat to clear my title. Thanks for all of the messages of help and finest needs.”

Father-of-four Mr Anderson was elected in 2012, having been a Labour councillor since 1998.

Merseyside Police mentioned 12 people had been charged following an investigation linked to the awarding of business and enterprise contracts from Liverpool Metropolis Council between 2010 and 2020.

Liverpool Metropolis Council mentioned it had supported the police investigation and would proceed to cooperate as required.

A spokesperson added: “It will be inappropriate to remark additional at this stage.”

These charged are:

• Former Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson, 67, of Knotty Ash, charged with with one depend of bribery, one depend of misconduct in a public workplace and one depend of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public offic
• Former Labour councillor Derek Hatton, 77, of Aigburth, charged with one depend of bribery and one depend of counsel or procure misconduct in a public workplace
• Former Liverpool Metropolis Council director Nicholas Kavanagh, 56, of Mossley Hill, charged with two counts of bribery
• Former Assistant Director at Liverpool Metropolis Council, Andrew Barr, 51, of Ainsdale, charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public workplace and one depend of bribery
• David Anderson, 37, of Wavertree, charged with one depend of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public workplace
• Phillipa Cook dinner, 49, of Mossley Hill, charged with two counts of bribery
• Alex Croft, 29, of Aughton, Lancashire, charged with one depend of bribery
• Julian Flanagan, 53, of Crosby charged with one depend of conspiracy to commit bribery
• Paul Flanagan, 61, of Knowsley Village, charged with one depend of conspiracy to commit bribery
• Sonjia Hatton, 49, of Aigburth, charged with one depend of misconduct in a public workplace
• Adam McLean, 54, of Woolton, charged with one depend of conspiracy to commit bribery
• James Shalliker, 38, of Downholland, Lancashire, charged with one depend of conspiracy to commit bribery

They are going to all seem at Preston Magistrates’ Court docket on 28 March.

Robin Weyell, deputy chief crown prosecutor mentioned: “The Crown Prosecution Service has reviewed a full file of proof from Merseyside Police and has authorised the investigation group to cost 12 folks with 12 offences associated to bribery and misconduct in public workplace.”

He mentioned legal proceedings have been now energetic and it was “extraordinarily necessary that there needs to be no reporting, commentary or sharing of knowledge on-line which might in any means prejudice these proceedings”.