Solicitors arrested

Two solicitors were among the seven men and one woman - all members of the legal fraternity - arrested in Liverpool last week in relation to allegations of corruption.District Judge David Tapp and Kevin Dooley - whose high-profile clients include Liverpool and England footballer Robbie Fowler - have subsequently been released on bail, along with the six court clerks also detained by police.

Mr Tapp has been suspended from his judicial post until the matter is resolved.The Office for the Supervision of Solicitors shut down Mr Dooley's two-office Liverpool practice, Dooley & Co, in June last year.Malcolm Marsh, chief executive of the Merseyside Magistrates Court Committee, said: 'These arrests are likely to lead to the commencement of internal investigations and, because of the nature of theallegations, possible suspension from work.' In the meantime, the routine court business has been moved to Bootle, just outside Liverpool.The Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, said he took allegations of corruption and the impact they have on public confidence seriously, but that he was confident 'all appropriate action to ensure that the courts function as normal' would be taken.The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed the identity of the court clerks as Carol Lynch, David Gregg, Peter Kelly, Mick Cartwright, Gerry Fenlon and Keith Proudlock.The police have released no further details relating to the allegations.

None of the seven was charged.Andrew Towler