Four arrested in police invesigation
JON MACPHERSON
THE leader-in-waiting of Lancashire County Council Geoff Driver is believed to be among four men arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and witness intimidation.
Police said the men were arrested on Monday morning as part of a longrunning inquiry.
Officers from Lancashire Police’s Operation Sheridan arrested the four men, aged 72, 55, 58 and 56, at addresses in Preston and Merseyside.
All the men have now been bailed.
A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: “Four men have been arrested in connection with an investigation into conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
“The men, aged 72, 55, 58 and 56, were arrested at addresses in Preston and Merseyside. “The arrests are part of
wider long-running a investigation into allegations of fraud, although none of the men have been arrested today on suspicion of fraud.
“All of the men have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and witness intimidation.”
Lancashire County Council said they would not be commenting on the arrests.
Conservative group leader Coun Driver, who had been due to be installed as leader of the authority on Thursday after sweeping to power at the county council elections earlier this month, was unavailable for comment.
Coun Peter Britcliffe, chairman of the Conservative group of councillors at Lancashire County Council, said he was aware of the arrests.
He added: “Obviously it is subject to a police investigation so there is absolutely nothing I am able to say at this stage.
“There will be a group meeting of the LCC Conservative group on Thursday morning and the in the afternoon we will go forward at the 1.30pm meeting and take control of the council.”