Police investigating Norwich Green councillor accused of shouting 'Nazis' at group of women holding vigil
A complaint has been lodged with the Green Party too
Police are investigating an incident in which a Green councillor is accused of shouting “Nazis” at a group of women holding a silent vigil.
Officers are looking into complaints they received about the behaviour of Charlie Caine, who represents the party on Norwich City Council, at the event which was being held in support of Afghan women.
The 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”.
They believe they were targeted because they have previously raised concerns about the impact of trans ideology on women and girls, although they have stressed the vigil was not related to this issue.
The councillor is a transman, the term for someone who is born female but identifies as male, and 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 been lodged with the Green Party too, but representatives have refused to comment, saying they are awaiting the results of City Hall’s inquiry.
A 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.”
The councillor has also declined to comment.
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.
The row is known to have split the party locally, with some members privately angry with the leadership’s response.
One source spoke 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.
“I think Mr Caine needs to do a bit of growing up and sit back and re-evaluate his own views and values.
“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 are “rare” in Norwich.
“It is concerning that these accusations have been made,” she added.