Liverpool's Labour mayor Joe Anderson 'arrested' in bribery and witness intimidation probe
JOE ANDERSON, the Mayor of Liverpool, has been arrested in connection with offences of bribery and witness intimidation as part of an investigation into building and development contracts in the city, it is understood.
Liverpool mayor arrested following ongoing investigation
Detectives from Merseyside Police arrested five men including Mr Anderson at addresses throughout Liverpool, as well as Ormskirk and Southport, the Liverpool Echo reports. Police said the arrests are part of "an ongoing investigation".
Detectives said a 72-year-old man, from Aigburth, has been arrested on suspicion of witness intimidation; a 62-year-old man, from Old Swan has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation; a 33-year-old man, from West Derby, has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation; a 46-year-old man, from Ainsdale, has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation; and a 25-year-old man, from, Ormskirk, has been arrested on suspicion of witness intimidation.
The Liverpool ECHO said it understood the 62-year-old man arrested is the directly elected Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson.
A Liverpool City Council spokesperson said: “Liverpool City Council is co-operating with Merseyside Police in relation to its ongoing investigation. We do not comment on matters relating to individuals.”
The police force added on its website: "Those arrested have been taken to police stations across Merseyside where they will be questioned by detectives."
Merseyside Police declined to comment further.
Express.co.uk has contacted Liverpool Labour for comment.
Labour Party politician Mr Anderson has been Mayor of Liverpool since 2012.
Last year, he secured the selection from Labour to run to be Mayor of the city for a third term at elections in May, which have been delated because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.