Men arrested as part of alleged corruption investigation

Date published: 31 January 2012

Five men have this morning, Tuesday 31 January 2012, been arrested as part of an investigation into alleged corruption.

Officers from GMP's Serious Crime Division executed warrants at addresses in Altrincham, Kersal, Didsbury and Bacup, Lancashire, and arrested five men, aged between 45 and 69 on suspicion of corruption in a public office.

These arrests are the result of an intelligence-led operation launched in June 2011 into allegations that two councillors at Bury Council accepted bribes in relation to a planning application.

As part of the operation, officers have also recovered a number of computers and documents from Bury Town Hall and a business premises in Moston.

The arrested men are currently being interviewed in police custody.

Bury divisional commander Chief Superintendent Jon Rush said: "This has been a complex investigation and these arrests are the result of a lot of hard work by a dedicated team of officers.

"I recognise this operation will cause some disruption at the council. However, the council is cooperating with the investigation and we intend to keep disruption to a minimum."