The Crown Prosecution Service charging statement on alleged Liverpool City Council related bribery and public office misconduct case
Robin Weyell, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor said: “The CPS has reviewed a full file of evidence from the Merseyside Police and has authorised the investigation team to charge 12 people with 12 offences related to bribery and misconduct in public office.
“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against these defendants are now active and that they have a right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
Notes to editors
- The first hearing in this case will be heard at 10am on 28 March 2025 at Preston Magistrates Court
- Robin Weyell is a Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS Serious Economic, Organised Crime and International Directorate (SEOCID)
Background:
Ten people have been charged with bribery offences committed between 2013 and 2020 The offences concern advantages given for the improper awarding of council contracts and other services. They are:
- Joseph Anderson (DOB: 24/01/1958), Beechwalk, Liverpool
- Nicholas Kavanagh (DOB: 18/02/1969), Rockery Drive, Liverpool
- Phillipa Cook (DOB: 17/05/1975), Rockery Drive, Liverpool
- James Shalikker (DOB: 16/05/1986), School Lane, Downholland, Lancashire
- Adam McLean (DOB: 17/02/1971), Acrefield Road, Liverpool
- Andrew Barr (DOB: 24/02/1974), Kendal Way, Ainsdale, Sefton
- Paul Flanagan (DOB: 12 09 1953), Ormskirk Road, Knowsley Village
- Julian Flanagan (DOB: 26/04/1971), Poplar Avenue, Crosby, Liverpool
- Alex Croft (DOB: 17/03/1995), Bold Lane, Aughton, Lancashire
- Derek Hatton (DOB: 17/01/1948), Livingston Drive South, Liverpool
Five people have been charged with misconduct in public office offences through arranging and granting privileged and special access or seeking confidential information from Liverpool City council in commercial and business matters or abuse of position of power; alleged to have been committed between 2010 and 2020. They are:
- Joseph Anderson (DOB: 24/01/1958), Beechwalk, Liverpool
- Andrew Barr (DOB: 24/02/1974), Kendal Way, Ainsdale, Sefton
- Sonija Hatton (DOB: 03/06/1975), Livingston Drive South, Liverpool
- Derek Hatton (DOB: 17/ 01/1948), Livingston Drive South, Liverpool
- David Anderson (DOB: 04/09/1987), Barnfield Drive, Liverpool
The role of the CPS
Any decision by the CPS does not imply any finding concerning guilt or criminal conduct; the CPS makes decisions only according to the test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors and it is applied in all decisions on whether or not to prosecute.
It is not the function of the CPS to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence, but to make fair, independent, and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges for the criminal court to consider.
The CPS assessment of any case is not in any sense a finding of, or implication of, any guilt or criminal conduct. It is not a finding of fact, which can only be made by a court, but rather an assessment of what it might be possible to prove to a court, in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. This assessment is based on the evidence available arising out of the present police investigation and not on the evidence that is likely to be gathered by the defence, and likely to be used to test the prosecution evidence. The CPS charging decision is therefore necessarily an assessment on the basis of the evidence that is available to the CPS at the time the decision is made.
CPS prosecutors must also keep every case under review, so that they take account of any change in circumstances that occurs as the case develops, including what becomes known of the defence case. If appropriate, the CPS may change the charges or stop a case.