Ex-Liverpool Mayor, Joe Anderson, among 12 charged in Operation Aloft investigation

Twelve people – including former Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson and his son David, former Liverpool City Council deputy leader, Derek Hatton and construction firm bosses Paul and Julian Flanagan – have been charged with offences of bribery and misconduct.

It follows an extensive investigation by Merseyside Police, dubbed Operation Aloft, connected to the awarding of commercial and business contracts from Liverpool City Council between 2010 and 2020.

Those charged are: 

• David Anderson, 37 years, 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
• Andrew Barr, 51 years, of Kendal Way, Ainsdale, charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office and one count of bribery – 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 counsel or procure 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 – 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

All those charged will appear at Preston Magistrates’ Court on Friday March 28, 2025.

Joe Anderson was elected Mayor of Liverpool with 57% of the vote in 2012, having been on the city’s council since 1998. He retained the position in 2016 with 52.6% of the vote.

He stood down on December 10, 2020, days after his arrest as part of Operation Aloft investigations.