Sign up to FREE email alerts from Liverpool Echo - Weekly Politics Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson has been interviewed under caution by police, the ECHO can exclusively reveal.

Mayor Anderson was quizzed by officers from Lancashire Police relating to an ongoing fraud investigation that has seen the council’s chief executive Ged Fitzgerald arrested.

The interview was believed to have taken place at the end of last year.

Operation Sheridan is investigating alleged financial impropriety centred around Lancashire Council’s BT joint venture, One Connect - the sister operation of the now defunct Liverpool Direct BT deal.

In May, Mr Fitzgerald was arrested along with the former boss of Liverpool Council’s BT joint venture David McElhinney and ex city finance chief Phil Halsall.

The three men - along with the leader of Lancashire Council Geoff Driver all remain on bail as the investigation continues.

They were all arrested related to their time in posts at Lancashire County Council.

While it has previously been reported that Mayor Anderson has spoken with the fraud investigators, this is the first time it has been confirmed he was called for an interview under police caution.

According to criminal law specialists Cartwright King, a police interview under caution is “an interview that is conducted in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.

“The caution is administered at the start of the interview and must be given if you are being asked questions where it is suspected that you have committed an offence.”

(Image: Colin Lane)

But in a statement, Mayor Anderson said that his interview was conducted “voluntarily under caution,” and said that he “positively” wanted to attend the interview to evidence his “full co-operation and assistance” with the police’s enquiries.

The Mayor’s full statement reads: “From the outset of this investigation, as Mayor, I have made it clear that Liverpool City Council, its officers and members will cooperate fully with Lancashire Police in their enquiries.

“Further to that commitment a number of people have been voluntarily interviewed. I have met the police on several occasions and one of those was voluntarily under caution which I positively wanted to attend to evidence my full cooperation and assistance in their enquiries. All individuals approached at the council have been encouraged to cooperate fully with Lancashire Police and many others have also been interviewed voluntarily under caution.”

He said the council was now providing a dedicated administrative assistant to Lancashire Police for “the full disclosure of required documentation and electronic data.”

He added: “I have committed these council resources to the police inquiry throughout the length of the investigation.

“As has been made known previously, the city council is also proceeding with its own internal enquiries.”

The Mayor said he was unable to speak more openly about the nature and details of the situation, adding: “I look forward to the time when I can comment more fully, but I am sure you will appreciate that at this point I am limited as to what I can say, so that the integrity of the police investigation is not prejudiced.”