Police confirm inquiry into standards probe after West Norfolk Council hearing halted
Police have confirmed they are looking into misconduct claims related to an inquiry into a West Norfolk councillor after a standards hearing was dramatically halted earlier today.
The admission follows a second adjournment of the case against Conservative councillor Shimit Patel during a session at Lynn Town Hall this morning.
The panel's chairman, Simon Nash, stepped aside after revealing that Norfolk Police were going to contact the council's executive at his request over the issue.
He said information he had received cast doubt over the quality of the investigation in the case, while other panel members also described the inquiry as "substandard".
In a statement released a short time ago, a Norfolk Police spokesman said: "We can confirm we have received a report of misconduct in connection with this incident.
"Officers are currently working alongside the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk to establish whether a crime has taken place."
A borough council spokesman said it was "not appropriate" for the authority to comment "as there will be ongoing investigations".