UK charges of BRIBERY and MISCONDUCT - Former Liverpool mayor JOE ANDERSON, city politician DEREK HATTON and ten others

Former Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson and city politician Derek Hatton have been charged with bribery and misconduct relating to council contracts, along with 10 others, police have said.

The charges come after a Merseyside Police probe, Operation Aloft, focused on a number of property developers.

Mr Anderson and Mr Hatton were first arrested in 2020 as part of an investigation into the awarding of building contracts.

Merseyside Police said 12 individuals had been charged following an investigation connected to the awarding of commercial and business contracts from Liverpool City Council between 2010 and 2020.

Robin Weyell, deputy chief crown prosecutor said:

• "The Crown Prosecution Service has reviewed a full file of evidence from Merseyside Police and has authorised the investigation team to charge 12 people with 12 offences related to bribery and misconduct in public office."
• Criminal proceedings were now active, and it was "extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings".

THE X12 CHARGED ARE:

1. Former Liverpool mayor Joe 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
2. Derek Hatton, 77, of Aigburth, charged with
   • One count of bribery and
   • One count of counsel or procure misconduct in a public office
3. Former Liverpool City Council director Nicholas Kavanagh, 56, of Mossley Hill, charged with
   • Two counts of bribery
4. 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
5. David Anderson, 37, of Wavertree, charged with
   • One count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office
6. Phillipa Cook, 49, of Mossley Hill, charged with
   • Two counts of bribery
7. Alex Croft, 29, of Aughton, Lancashire, charged with
   • One count of bribery
8. Julian Flanagan, 53, of Crosby charged with
   • One count of conspiracy to commit bribery
9. Paul Flanagan, 61, of Knowsley Village, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery
10. Sonjia Hatton, 49, of Aigburth, charged with
    • One count of misconduct in a public office
11. Adam McLean, 54, of Woolton, charged with
    • One count of conspiracy to commit bribery
12. 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.

Source

• https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c17qn4ng0gko