Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson released after arrest and says he is co-operating with police

Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson has said he is co-operating with police after he was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation.

Mr Anderson, 62, was arrested alongside four other men on Friday as part of an investigation into building and planning developments in the city.

All five have now been released pending further inquiries, Merseyside Police have said.

The directly-elected mayor said he was questioned for six hours and is “co-operating fully” with detectives.

He added that he supports the Labour Party’s decision to suspend him while the investigation is carried out and will work with his council cabinet to make sure Liverpool’s response to the coronavirus crisis is not affected.

Mr Anderson’s statement on Saturday read: “I was arrested as part of Operation Aloft on Friday 4 December, and interviewed for six hours. I co-operated fully with Merseyside Police and will continue to be co-operative in their continuing enquiries.

“I will be talking to my cabinet colleagues over the weekend to ensure the challenges our city faces with the COVID pandemic continue to receive the focus they deserve.

“I also support the Labour Party’s decision to apply an administrative suspension while this investigation continues.

“I have been bailed to return in one month’s time. Given the investigation is continuing, and there are bail conditions, I will not be making any further comments.”

The Merseyside Police fraud inquiry has now seen 11 people arrested in total and is believed to have been running for more than a year, according to Sky News’ North of England correspondent Tom Parmenter.

“Detectives have not revealed which property deals are being examined but they are all within the city of Liverpool,” he added.

The force did not name Mr Anderson in its initial statement, only revealing that the following people had been arrested:

• A 72-year-old man, from Aigburth, on suspicion of witness intimidation
• A 62-year-old man, from Old Swan, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation
• A 46-year-old man, from Ainsdale, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation
• A 33-year-old man, from West Derby, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation
• A 25-year-old man, from, Ormskirk, on suspicion of witness intimidation

But the mayor’s statement on Saturday confirmed his involvement.

He was photographed at his home address on Saturday morning but has so far not commented directly on the allegations he faces.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Liverpool, Richard Kemp, has called on him to step aside while the police investigation continues.

Mr Anderson has been at the forefront of Liverpool’s response to COVID-19, with the government having held the city up as an example of how areas can emerge from the toughest level of its tiered restrictions.

Liverpool was in Tier 3 before November’s lockdown, but is now in Tier 2 after the stricter measures and the rollout of mass testing helped numbers get back under control.

Mr Anderson revealed earlier this year that his brother Bill had died of the virus aged 70.

(c) Sky News 2020: Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson released after arrest and says he is co-operating with police