Claim councillor called women 'Nazis' at vigil

The remark was allegedly made during a 30 minute silent vigil outside The Forum in Norwich city centre

Police are investigating an alleged incident in which a councillor was said to have shouted "Nazis" at a group of women holding a silent vigil.

Charlie Caine, who represents the Green party on Norwich City Council, is accused of making the remark at an event being held in support of Afghan women on 1 February.

Organisers of the vigil, the Norwich Women's Rights Group and Women's Rights Network (WRN) Norfolk, claim the councillor yelled at them, calling them "Nazis" and "transphobes".

The councillor, who is a transgender man – somebody who is born female but identifies as male – declined to comment.

The groups believed they were targeted because they had previously raised concerns about the alleged impact of trans ideology on women and girls.

However, they stressed the vigil, held outside The Forum, was not related to trans issues.

The councillor has publicly opposed the groups in the past.

As well as the police, Norwich City Council is also investigating the incident after the women complained.

A complaint has also been lodged with the Green Party, but representatives refused to comment, and said they were awaiting the results of City Hall's inquiry.

Lucy Galvin, leader of the Green group at City Hall, and Adrian Ramsay, Green MP for Waveney Valley, co-leader of the party and a former Norwich city councillor, were both asked for their response to the allegations but declined.

A party spokesman said: "We can confirm that this matter has been referred to the Green Party and will be reviewed in line with process. We cannot comment on individual disciplinary cases."

Labour city councillor Mike Sands said he was "shocked" by the allegations

The dispute was known to have split the Green Party locally, with some members privately angry with the leadership's response.

One source told the Local Democracy Reporting Service of his "despair" and "dismay" at the situation.

Another said that the councillor had been approached by other senior members and urged to apologise for "inappropriate" behaviour.

Rival politicians have been quick to criticise the councillor's alleged antics.

Mike Sands, a Labour member of Norwich City Council, said: "I was shocked when I heard what he was accused of.

"You can't just go around shouting like that at people.

"It's bad enough if you're a member of the public hurling insults around – but as an elected councillor you're in the public eye and rightfully held to a higher degree of accountability."

Judith Lubbock, a Lib Dem councillor, said such incidents involving councillors were "rare" in Norwich.

"It is concerning that these accusations have been made," she added.