Joe Anderson is among five held on suspicion of alleged offences including conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson has been arrested in connection with an investigation into building and planning developments in the city, Sky News understands.
He is one of five men arrested on suspicion of alleged offences including conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation.
Detectives made arrests at addresses throughout the city as well as Ormskirk and Southport.
The arrests are part of “an ongoing investigation”, police said today.
Confirming the details of the arrests police said the following five people had been arrested
None have been charged or named by Merseyside Police, with the force releasing the following details:
- A 72-year-old man, from Aigburth, arrested on suspicion of witness intimidation
- A 62-year-old man, from Old Swan, arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation
- A 46-year-old man, from Ainsdale, arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation
- A 33-year-old man, from West Derby, arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation
- A 25-year-old man, from, Ormskirk, arrested on suspicion of witness intimidation
Labour Heartlands understands the 62-year-old is Mr Anderson, the city’s directly-elected Labour mayor.
It is also understood that he has been administratively suspended from the party.Advertisement
Merseyside Police said detectives made the arrests on Friday as “part of an ongoing investigation”.
The Labour Party politician has led the city since 2010 and has been Mayor since 2012.
Last year he secured the Labour Party selection to run to be Mayor of the city for a third term at May’s delayed elections.
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.”
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