Dratsabasti wrote:
I was screaming at the radio, Brunstrom stated he wanted to educate, be open and above board.
Yet, in todays Daily Mail, there was an article about N Wales Police dressing up in Black uniforms, and slipped in there was a snippet about Brunstrom ordering his officers to hide behind walls with their hand held speed guns.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH
Officers working for one of Britain's most controversial police chiefs are to wear uniforms which critics say make them look more like members of a paramilitary organisation.
Instead of the traditional white shirt and tie, policemen and women on patrol in North Wales are to be kitted out in black combat trousers and matching black roll-neck tops.
The blackshirted look has already been attacked as intimidatory, coming as it does from the force where Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom has admitted making his officers hide behind walls and road signs with hand-held devices to catch speeding motorists.
David Jones, Tory MP for Clwyd West, said: "It would give a sinister, unfriendly appearance to the police, which is exactly the opposite of what the police should be.
"I think the connotations of black shirts are obvious to anybody. They've got a kind of fascist, militaristic appearance.
"It may be appropriate for a police force in some tinpot central American dictatorship, but it certainly doesn't belong on the streets of places like Colwyn Bay and Ruthin."
'Them and us mentality' Elfyn Llwyd, Plaid Cymru MP for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy, warned that the uniforms would undermine relations between police and communities and foster a "them and us" mentality. "If people don't feel comfortable approaching the police it will be a big pity," he added. "And anyone who knows anything about history would be wary of wearing official black shirts."
But Mr Brunstrom, whose force spent thousands of pounds investigating anti-Welsh comments by Anne Robinson and is now looking into similar remarks allegedly made by Tony Blair, is determined to push the changes through.
He has already been dubbed "king of speed cameras", with his officers once issuing 4,200 speeding tickets in a month.
The new uniforms feature lightweight black combat trousers with pockets for notebooks and other small items, black boots and black roll-neck tops.
All male and female officers on patrol will wear the outfits, similar to those already being worn by police in Scotland's largest force, Strathclyde, from the New Year. A decision over what headgear officers will wear has yet to be made.
Senior officers are likely to stick to a shirt and tie.
Along with forces all over the country, North Wales Police have been trying out new uniforms, with benefits said to include greater comfort in hot and cold weather and ease of wearing body armour over the top.
A spokesman for the force said: "The new roll-neck tops have received a lot of support from officers in the field.
"They are considerably more practical than the current system of shirts and ties.
"Combat trousers have been available to officers for some time. Times have changed and it is only reasonable that the uniforms should move with the times."
Rank and file officers support the new look. Richard Eccles, secretary of the North Wales Police Federation, said: "There has been no adverse reaction from the public so far and the officers love the idea.
"A dress shirt and a tie is great in the office but does not really suit the action police officers often face nowadays."
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