Council ends probe into 'Nazis comment' at vigil

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

A council investigation into a member who allegedly shouted "Nazis" at a group of women holding a silent vigil has concluded no rules were breached because the politician was "not acting as a councillor at the time".

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.

Norfolk Police dropped its investigation last month after giving Caine "words of advice" and a further probe by the council decided no further action would be taken.

The councillor, who is a transgender man, has been contacted by the BBC and the Local Democracy Reporting Service for comment.

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

The groups believed they were targeted because they had previously raised concerns about the alleged impact of trans ideology on women and girls, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

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

The women lodged a complaint with City Hall on 4 February, but after a five-week probe the authority said: "We sought an independent legal expert to carry out the investigation on our behalf.

"After carefully assessing all the available information, the independent legal expert confirmed there was no breach of the councillor code of conduct as this person was not acting in his role as a councillor at the time."

A spokeswoman for the WRN said they believed the conclusion to be "flawed", adding: "The judgement relies on the surprising claim that such disgraceful public behaviour by someone who is well-known to all of us to be a city councillor for the Green Party, and who even invited a witness to report the harassment to the city council, is of no relevance to the councillor's position or to the city council's interest in such shocking public conduct."

Lucy Galvin, leader of the Green group on the council, said: "The matter is settled and there is no further comment."