Ex-Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson and former deputy leader of the City Council Derek Hatton are among 12 people who have been charged with bribery and misconduct as part of Operation Aloft
Former Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson and former city politician Derek Hatton are among 12 people charged with bribery and misconduct relating to council contracts, Merseyside Police said.
In a statement this morning, the force said: “Merseyside Police can confirm 12 individuals have today (7 March 2025) been charged with offences of bribery and misconduct following an extensive investigation (Operation Aloft) connected to the awarding of commercial and business contracts from Liverpool City Council between 2010 and 2020.”
Anderson was first elected mayor of Liverpool in 2012 and was seeking a third term in office at the time of his arrest in December 2020. He was suspended by the Labour Party and stood down as mayor following his arrest. All those charged will appear at Preston Magistrates Court on Friday March 28, 2025.
The full list of those charged is as follows:
- David Anderson, 37 years, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office
- Joseph Anderson, 67 years, 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 Mayor of Liverpool
- Andrew Barr, 51 years, charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office and one count of bribery – former assistant director of highways and planning at Liverpool City Council
- Phillipa Cook, 49 years, charged with two counts of bribery
- Alex Croft, 29 years, charged with one count of bribery
- Julian Flanagan, 53 years, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery
- Paul Flanagan 61 years, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery
- Derek Hatton, 77 years, charged with one count of bribery and one count of counsel or procure misconduct in a public office – former deputy leader of Liverpool City Council
- Sonjia Hatton, 49 years, charged with one count of misconduct in a public office
- Nicholas Kavanagh, 56 years, charged with two counts of bribery – former head of regeneration at Liverpool City Council
- Adam McLean, 54 years, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery
- James Shalliker, 38 years, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery
Robin Weyell, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor, said: “The 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 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.”
The Merseyside Police probe, Operation Aloft, was launched in 2019 and focused on a number of property developers with Joe Anderson and Derek Hatton first arrested in 2020 as part of an investigation into the awarding of building contracts. A Government inspection was ordered and commissioners were appointed to oversee some functions within the authority in June 2021, with services being handed back to the council last year.