Cllr Joe Hanson is due to appear in magistrates court next month after an alleged incident after a public meeting
20:00, 22 Jan 2026Updated 21:46, 22 Jan 2026
Kirkdale West ward councillor Joe Hanson(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A senior Liverpool City Councillor has been charged with a public order offence following an alleged incident last year.
Cllr Joe Hanson, a Labour Party councillor who represents the Kirkdale West ward on the city council, has been charged with the public order offence of causing alarm or distress following an alleged incident at the Rotunda building in Kirkdale on September 4 last year following a public meeting.
Cllr Hanson, who was first elected to the council back in the year 2000, is due to appear before South Sefton Magistrates Court on the morning of February 5.
The veteran councillor, who is currently the chair of the local authority’s Neighbourhoods Committee, told the ECHO this evening that he denies the charge against him and plans to “rigorously” defend himself in court.
The city council’s official opposition, the Liberal Democrats have called for Cllr Hanson to be suspended from the Labour Party and to step down from his role on the Neighbourhoods Committee until the criminal proceedings are concluded.
Cllr Hanson told the ECHO he has no plans to step back at this time.