Criminal charges dropped against Liverpool city councillor

Joe Hanson had been expected to stand trial next month

Criminal proceedings against a sitting Liverpool city councillor have been dropped. Joe Hanson, 75, had been charged with a public order offence in January in relation to an alleged confrontation in September last year. He was released on unconditional bail and scheduled to appear at South Sefton Magistrates Court next month.

The ECHO can now reveal that the charge against Cllr Hanson, who represents the Kirkdale West ward, has been dropped. In a letter sent to the veteran Labour councillor by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), officials said they believed there was “not enough evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.”

Cllr Hanson said he was “relieved” at the decision but spoke of his frustration at the grief the accusation had caused his family. He said he intended to rejoin the Liverpool Labour group on the city council having stepped away while the case remained active to “reduce any embarrassment to the party.”

He had relinquished his role as chairman of the local authority’s sustainable, safe and thriving neighbourhoods committee. Appearing before magistrates in February, Cllr Hanson had been charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause another harassment, alarm or distress.

He had denied the charge and was due to go before magistrates again in a trial on April 22. This followed a reported altercation between two men following a meeting, which took place at a café on Great Mersey Street on September 4 last year.

It is understood the alleged incident happened at the Rotunda community centre. In a letter seen by the ECHO, the CPS informed Cllr Hanson his case would no longer go ahead.

A notice of discontinuance said: “I write to give you notice under Section 23(3) Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 that I do not intend the proceedings against the above named to be continued on the charge(s) set out below: Use threatening / abusive / insulting words / behaviour to cause harassment / alarm / distress 04/09/2025.

“The reason for my decision is that there is not enough evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.

“I have notified the accused of this decision and of his right to have the proceedings revived.”

Reacting to the decision, Cllr Hanson admitted appearing in the dock last month had got to him and said his family had been “worried sick.”

He said: “I’ve got mixed feelings to be honest, I’m relieved, more for my family.

“It’s all very well and good me going around saying I wasn’t bothered but I was.

“I’m also a bit frustrated that someone can go around making allegations like that and cause grief for my family.”