Former Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson has been charged with bribery and misconduct in public office following an extensive investigation relating to council contracts, the police have said.
Operation Aloft, led by Merseyside Police, focused on the awarding of commercial and business contracts from Liverpool City Council between 2010 and 2020.
Those charged are:
- Former mayor of Liverpool Joseph Anderson, 67, of Knotty Ash, charged with one count of bribery, one count of misconduct in a public office and one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office;
- Former assistant director at Liverpool City Council Andrew Barr, 51, of Ainsdale, charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office and one count of bribery;
- Former director at Liverpool City Council Nicholas Kavanagh, 56, of Mossley Hill, charged with two counts of bribery;
- David Anderson, 37, of Wavertree, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office;
- Phillipa Cook, 49, of Mossley Hill, charged with two counts of bribery;
- Alex Croft, 29, of Aughton, Lancashire, charged with one count of bribery;
- Julian Flanagan, 53, of Crosby charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery;
- Paul Flanagan, 61, of Knowsley Village, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery;
- Derek Hatton, 77, of Aigburth, charged with one count of bribery and one count of counsel or procure misconduct in a public office;
- Sonjia Hatton, 49, of Aigburth, charged with one count of misconduct in a public office;
- Adam McLean, 54, of Woolton, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery
- James Shalliker, 38, of Downholland, Lancashire, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
They will all appear at Preston Magistrates Court on 28 March 2025.
Robin Weyell, deputy chief crown prosecutor, said: “The [Crown Prosecution Service] has reviewed a full file of evidence from the Merseyside Police and has authorised the investigation team to charge 12 people with 12 offences related to bribery and misconduct in public office.
“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against these defendants are now active and that they have a right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
