Liverpool City Council building
Two directors of a Liverpool building firm are among 12 people, including the city’s former mayor, who will appear in court after being charged in relation to the award of contracts by the city council.
In a statement, Merseyside Police said that all of the charges had been brought following an investigation, known as Operation Aloft, into actions surrounding the awarding of contracts by Liverpool City Council between 2010 and 2020.
Julian and Paul Flanagan, the founders of Liverpool building company the Flanagan Group, have both been charged with conspiracy to commit bribery.
Former council leader and Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson has been charged with bribery, misconduct in a public office and conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office. His son David, who ran a firm that carried out health and safety work on a construction scheme, has been charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.
Derek Hatton, who served as the Liverpool City Council leader in the 1980s, has been charged with bribery and one count of counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office, while the council’s former director of regeneration Nick Kavanagh has also been charged with bribery. Kavanagh’s former assistant director Andrew Barr has been charged with bribery and conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.
Robin Weyell, deputy chief crown prosecutor, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) 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 CPS 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.”
Ten people have been charged with offences related to bribery alleged to have been committed between 2013 and 2020.
The CPS said that these charges “concern advantages given for the improper awarding of council contracts and other services”.
Five people have been charged with misconduct in public office offences “through arranging and granting privileged and special access or seeking confidential information from Liverpool City Council in commercial and business matters or abuse of position of power”, the CPS said.
These offences are alleged to have been committed between 2010 and 2020.
Those charged are:
- David Anderson, 37 years, of Wincanton Street, Wavertree, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.
- Joseph Anderson, 67 years, of The Beechwalk, 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. Anderson is the former Mayor of Liverpool.
- Andrew Barr, 51 years, of Kendal Way, Ainsdale, charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office and one count of bribery. He is the former assistant director at Liverpool City Council.
- Phillipa Cook, 49 years, of Rookery Drive, Mossley Hill, charged with two counts of bribery.
- Alex Croft, 29 years, of Bold Lane, Aughton, Lancashire, charged with one count of bribery.
- Julian Flanagan, 53 years, of Poplar Avenue, Crosby charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
- Paul Flanagan, 61 years, of Ormskirk Road, Knowsley Village, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
- Derek Hatton, 77 years, of Livingston Drive, Aigburth, charged with one count of bribery and one count of counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office.
- Sonjia Hatton, 49 years, of Livingston Drive, Aigburth, charged with one count of misconduct in a public office.
- Nicholas Kavanagh, 56 years, of Rookery Drive, Mossley Hill, charged with two counts of bribery. Kavanagh is a former director at Liverpool City Council.
- Adam McLean, 54 years, of Acrefield Road, Woolton, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
- James Shalliker, 38 years, of School Lane, Downholland, Lancashire, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
