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Brunstrom in hot water again over ‘offensive remarks’ made to member of the public
By Steve Farrell

Politics & the law

21 February 2008 15:19


North Wales chief constable Richard Brunstrom is in hot water with the Independent Police Complains Commission again – this time over ‘offensive remarks’ made to a member of the public.

The IPCC has instructed the North Wales Police Authority to take action over comments made by Brunstrom to Idris Francis, who spent years challenging a speeding case on a point of law.

Responding to a complaint from Francis that Brunstrom had used ‘misleading’ road casualty figures, the chief constable wrote: 'The world would be a much better place if people like you a) obeyed the law and b) owned up when caught breaking it. Your attempt to thwart justice is dishonourable and sets a pathetic example to younger drivers. You should be ashamed of yourself.

'Disappointingly I see no sign that you are. I do not intend to get into a pointless argument with you about collision and casualty statistics - your behaviour as a convicted offender, apparently in denial, renders you an irrelevance to serious debate on the issue.'

Francis complained to the IPCC that Brunstrom's reply was 'personally offensive and irrelevant'. The IPCC said Francis supplied supporting documents 'in order to demonstrate Mr Brunstrom's offensive remarks'.

The Commission ruled: ‘This complaint could be categorised as a complaint under the category “Incivility, impoliteness and intolerance”, whereby a person serving with the police should treat members of the public and colleagues with courtesy and respect, avoiding abusive or deriding attitudes or behaviour.

'In particular they must avoid: favouritism of an individual or group; all forms of victimisation or unreasonable discrimination. As a result I am of the opinion that this part of the complaint should be recorded as such and dealt with accordingly.'

Under ‘Actions actions required of the force/authority’ the ruling lists: ‘That the Police Authority records the complaint regarding “offensive remarks” as a complaint and that the matters are dealt with accordingly.’

Francis said: “I complained to Brunstrom last autumn. All I got back was abuse, with no comment whatever on the figures.”

North Wales Police made no immediate comment.

Brunstrom’s conduct was investigated by the IPCC last year after he used images of a decapitated motorcyclist to launch a road safety campaign without permission of the dead rider’s family. The chief constable was later cleared of misconduct.