Richard Brunstrom

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Richard Brunstrom is the Chief Constable of North Wales Police, a position he has held since January 2001.

1 Biography
2 References
3 External links

[edit] Biography

Brunstrom graduated in Zoology from the University of Wales, Bangor, and joined Sussex Police.^[1] After 11 years, in 1990 he moved to Greater Manchester Police as a Superintendent serving initially in Old Trafford, regularly commanded the policing of Manchester United and Manchester City home football games. He then became a Divisional Commander at Bury. Brunstrom was appointed Assistant Chief Constable in the Cleveland Police in September 1995, subsequently promoted to Deputy Chief Constable.^[2].

[edit] North Wales Police

Brunstrom joined North Wales Police as Deputy Chief Constable in January 2000, and was appointed Chief Constable of the Force in January 2001. Throughout his tenure, Brunstrom has courted controversy, with his campaign against speeding drivers and his support for speed cameras has drawn criticism from motorist groups. His vociferous action against speeding and other traffic crimes has led to him being nicknamed the "Mad Mullah of the Traffic Taliban", by Daily Mail columnist Richard Littlejohn.

Brunstrom has called for the decriminalisation of all drugs – including heroin and cocaine – and has urged the Government to declare an end to the "failed" war on illegal narcotics.^[3]

Brunstrom has been praised for his action against anti-social behaviour and his learning and promotion of the Welsh language, and being the first Chief Constable to have his own blog. Previously ACPO's head of road policing policy, head of the UK’s National Wildlife Crime Unit, and police co-ordinator on drugs policy across Wales.^[2]

In September 2007, as a demonstration of support for Tasers being trialled in rural areas of North Wales, Brunstrom volunteered to be tasered by his fellow officers. Video footage of the event was posted on the forces website; Brunstrom was tasered for 1.5 seconds, and swore as he lost control of his body. Afterwards he described the event as "Not pleasant" and warned "I very strongly advise you, if faced by an officer and a Taser, that you follow the instructions of the nice police officer, because you will not enjoy the consequences of disobedience.".^[4]

During refurbishment work at North Wales Police headquarters in December 2007 Brunstrom staged a break-in, scaling scaffolding attached to the building and climbing through a window, in order to highlight lax security.^[5]

[edit] Welsh language

Brunstrom has been praised for his learning and promotion of the Welsh language, in which he holds an A level. This has led to him being created an honorary Druid by the Gorsedd of Bards list at the 2006 National Eisteddfod,^[6] and in April 2007 made a speech to Welsh communities pressure group Cymuned in which he urged politicians to update the 1993 Welsh Language Act, and said he was doing his duty by raising it.^[7]

[edit] Mark Gibney

Mark Gibney was a 40 year old motorcyclist, who was killed in 2003 through decapitation when his bike crashed on a bend on the B5105 between Cerrigydrudion and Ruthin in Denbighshire. In a private presentation to reporters in May 2007 to launch a new approach to speeding via courses and training versus points and fines, Brunstrom used a series of photographs of dead motorists including a photograph of Gibney's decapitated body.^[8] Although both Brunstrom and the North Wales Police Authority apologised without reservation to the family, Brunstrom was investigated by the IPCC at the request of the Police Authority, and was given a severe warning.^[9] Albert Owen, the Labour MP for Anglesey called for Brunstrom to resign as he was "out of control" and that the controversy surrounding him overshadows the work of the police.^[10] When later interviewed about the choice of photograph, Brunstrom apologised to Gibney's family and admitted making a mistake he regretted, but admitted that he would if given the choice use the photograph again but would have approached the family first.^[11]