Merseyside Police has submitted an evidence file from its Operation Aloft corruption probe to the Crown Prosecution Service in a significant step.
Operation Aloft is an investigation into allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption linked to building and development contracts in Liverpool. The probe has resulted in a number of high profile arrests linked to Liverpool City Council - including former Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson.
The investigation was launched in 2019 and exploded into view in dramatic fashion later in that year when Liverpool Council's then Director of Regeneration - Nick Kavanagh - was arrested at the local authority's Cunard Building headquarters on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and misconduct in a public office.