Woman cautioned after councillor punched in Great Yarmouth
Cathy Cordiner-Achenbach, borough councillor for Southtown and Cobholm ward in Great Yarmouth. Picture: Submitted. - Credit: Archant
A woman in her 50s has been cautioned after a councillor was punched in Great Yarmouth.
Members of the Great Yarmouth Labour group canvassing in Gorleston. Picture: David Hannant - Credit: Archant
Cathy Cordiner-Achenbach, Labour Party member, was on the recent local election trail in the town when the incident happened.
She was delivering leaflets in Southtown on April 1.
Norfolk Police have said a woman in her 50s has since been cautioned and the case is now closed.
Ms Cordiner-Achenbach said: "For me it is the appropriate action. I couldn't allow it to pass without the person understanding the nature of what they had done.
Members of the Great Yarmouth Labour group canvassing in Gorleston. Picture: David Hannant - Credit: Archant
"It wasn't about me as an individual, it was politically motivated, and at the same time, I passionately believe people shouldn't be written off for one mistake."
At the time, in the run-up to the local elections on May 2, Ms Cordiner-Achenbach had said she was shaken by the incident but understood why people felt frustrated.
She was one of two councillors elected to Southtown and Cobholm ward, which had one of the election's lowest turnouts - at 18pc.
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Other candidates said the campaign was one of the toughest in recent memory, with frustrations over national politics, especially Brexit, infecting local matters.
There were reports of candidates receiving abuse.
Some residents said they would not be voting because they were sick of politics.
Stuart Hellingsworth, a Labour Party member who assisted in the canvassing, said frustration with Westminster had an impact.
"There are always people that don't engage with politics, but I feel these types of people have been pushed to the next level - those who previously would have just said no, thank you, are now being a lot blunter and we've had the occasional eff off," he said.
During the campaign, Conservative Party councillor Graham Plant said he had encountered similar trends
"People are feeling really let down by the process in Westminster, which has an impact," he said before polling day.
"However, I honestly can't remember there being any local election where there hasn't been something happening in Westminster that has interfered.
"Personally, I have not encountered any violence or aggression, but you can tell people are just really cheesed off with politics in general."
