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City councils

Liverpool Council Investigations: Councillors Urge Speed-Up and Answers

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Councillors Richard Kemp and John Potter from the Liberal Democrats in Liverpool and Preston have written to the Chief Constables of Lancashire and Merseyside, urging them to speed up investigations into Operation Sheridan and Operation Aloft. These investigations, linked to Liverpool City Council, have been ongoing for several years, with costs reportedly running to £6 million. The investigations involve alleged financial impropriety and corruption within the council.

Key Takeaways:

  • Operation Sheridan, led by Lancashire Police, is investigating alleged financial impropriety at the One Connect joint venture between BT and Lancashire County Council.
  • The investigation has been ongoing since May 2017, with four men arrested, including former Liverpool IT partnership boss David McElhinney and former Lancashire County Council chief executive Philip Halsall.
  • The police investigation has been complex and costly, with costs reportedly running to £6 million pounds to date.
  • Operation Aloft, led by Merseyside Police, is investigating building and development contracts in Liverpool, with 12 people arrested and released under investigation.
  • Former Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson and his son David were arrested in December 2020, and the council's former Regeneration Director Nick Kavanagh was detained a year before that.
  • Councillors Kemp and Potter have urged the Chief Constables to bring the investigations to a head, citing reputational damage to the councils and unfair treatment for those implicated.

Statistics:

  • Costs of Operation Sheridan: £6 million pounds to date (according to the Lib Dem councillors).
  • Duration of Operation Sheridan: Investigation began in May 2017, with a dossier handed over to the Crown Prosecution Service in August 2018.
  • Number of arrests in Operation Aloft: 12 people have been arrested and released under investigation.
  • Duration of Operation Aloft: Investigation began in August 2019.
  • Time period since Liverpool Council's accounts were last signed off: 2015.

Sources:

  • Letter from Cllrs Richard Kemp and John Potter to the Chief Constables of Lancashire and Merseyside.
  • Merseyside Police spokesperson, commenting on Operation Aloft.
  • Lancashire Police statement, commenting on Operation Sheridan.
  • Liverpool Echo, article on the ongoing investigations.

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