Joe Anderson, the former mayor of Liverpool, has been told he is no longer under investigation by Lancashire police.
Anderson was interviewed with caution in late 2017 as part of Operation Sheridan, an investigation launched in 2013 after concerns were raised about financial irregularities in connection with the award of a fleet maintenance contract.
A separate investigation by Merseyside police into allegations of bribery and intimidation of witnesses continues.
Over the weekend, Anderson tweeted that Lancashire police had “stopped” their interest in him and would not take any action.
The forces said they had sent a letter to four men informing them that they were no longer under investigation as part of Operation Sheridan. “The four, aged 64, 68, 66 and 62, contacted last month and were told they would not face further action,” the statement said.
“Operation Sheridan was launched in 2013 following allegations of financial irregularities by Lancashire County Council police. Following the investigation, we referred the matter to the Royal Prosecutor’s Office, which is currently considering potential crimes against four other people.
“We would like to remind all stakeholders that criminal proceedings on this issue remain active. It is extremely important that there is no reporting, commenting or sharing of information online that could in any way harm future proceedings. ”
Anderson, 64, was first elected Liverpool City Councilor in 1998, becoming leader in 2010. He became Liverpool’s first directly elected mayor in 2012 and was re-elected as Labor’s candidate in the local elections. in May 2021 postponed from 2020 due to Covid.
He was arrested by Merseyside police in December 2020 as part of a various investigation, Operation Aloft, investigating allegations of bribery and intimidation of witnesses related to construction deals in Liverpool. This investigation is ongoing.
His arrest led to Anderson stepping down as mayor and announcing that he would not run for re-election. He then said that the police investigation would “confirm that I have done nothing wrong and that my name and reputation will be acquitted.”
Anderson said he would continue to fight to prove his innocence and defend his legacy as mayor of his hometown.
He wrote: “It has been a great privilege to represent the Labor Party and to be part of a collective movement that represents people like me who are growing up in poverty and trying to find a way out of it.
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