Elliot Lawless was arrested as part of the same operation that resulted in charges against former Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson
15:26, 12 Jun 2025Updated 15:40, 12 Jun 2025
Elliot Lawless will not face charges as part of Operation Aloft
A Liverpool property developer who was arrested as part of a corruption investigation by Merseyside police will not face charges, police have confirmed.
Elliot Lawless was arrested in December 2019 as part of Merseyside Police’s Operation Aloft, an investigation into building contracts in Liverpool. The probe has seen multiple figures linked to Liverpool City Council arrested and charged including former Mayor Joe Anderson.
Mr Anderson, along with former council deputy leader Derek Hatton and ex city council directors Nick Kavanagh and Andy Barr are amongst 12 people who were charged with various offences as part of Operation Aloft.
They will all be tried across three separate trials next year. They all deny the charges against them.
Elliot Lawless will not face charges as part of Operation Aloft (Image: Victoria Tetley)
But Mr Lawless, who was behind various property developments in Liverpool and Manchester, will not face any charges following his arrest as part of the same operation. It was confirmed today that the Crown Prosecution Service has decided that there is insufficient evidence to charge him.
A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: “An extensive investigation has been carried out and following submission of an evidential file to the Crown Prosecution Service, they advised there is insufficient evidence to charge a 38-year-old man from Liverpool who had been arrested.
“The case against the suspect has therefore been withdrawn.”
Mr Lawless, who was initially arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud, bribery and corruption had always strenuously denied any wrongdoing and successfully challenged the legality of warrants used by police to search his home and office.