Richard Brunstrom
Richard Brunstrom
Early life
Brunstrom's father Geoff (1925-2016) was a geologist of Swedish descent.[2] He grew up in Surrey. Brunstrom graduated in Zoology from Bangor University. He got two years into a Zoology PhD but then joined the police. His brother is the author Alan Brunstrom (born 1956).
Career
He joined
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. He has commented that he needed to stir up debate as politicians were too afraid of unpopularity to address pressing issues.[5] He expressed his willingness to prosecute MPs about any illegal expenses.[6]
Road safety
He was
In a private presentation to
Drug decriminalisation
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.[20] He was police co-ordinator on drugs policy across Wales.
Welsh language
Brunstrom has been praised for his learning and promotion of the
CCTV, antisocial behaviour
Brunstrom was very supportive of the use of CCTV in general as a tool in the fight against petty crime and environmental crime, such as dogs defecating in public places.[23]
Trial of Taser
In September 2007, as a demonstration of support for Tasers being trialed in rural areas of North Wales, Brunstrom volunteered to be tasered by his fellow officers. Video footage of the event was posted on the force's 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.".[24]
Weekend working
Wanting to get in to North Wales Police headquarters to work at a weekend, and finding that his key fob did not work, Brunstrom broke in to his headquarters, scaling scaffolding attached to the building and climbing through a window. It was initially claimed that this was a stunt to expose lax security.[25]
Wildlife crime
He was head of the UK's National Wildlife Crime Unit.
Honours and retirement
Brunstrom was awarded the
References
- ^ Police chief announces retirement. 1 May 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8028878.stm
- ^ "Interview Jasper Gerard meets Richard Brunstrom". The Times. London. 9 October 2005. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ BBC News: 'Brunstrom: Road to controversy' BBC Wales
- ^ Bio of Brunstrom north-wales.police.uk
- ^ a b c Papers from the British Criminology Conference. Speeding, the Chief Constable and Trust in North Wales Police. Iain Dalton, Victoria M.L. Jones, Stefan Machura, Henry Ngaihte, Thomas P. Norton, Maria Pritchard. Bangor University.ISSN 1759-0043; Vol. 9: 92-110 http://www.britsoccrim.org/volume9/6.Dalton09.pdf
- ^ BBC News Brunstrom 'may probe' MPs expenses, 17 May 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8054214.stm
- ^ The impact of value based decision making on policing in North Wales. Final Report/Adroddiad Terfynol April 2012/Ebrill 2012. Martina Feilzer and Jessica Trew. School of Social Sciences/Ysgol Gwyddorau Cymdeithas Bangor University/Prifysgol Bangor. library.college.police.uk/docs/Impact-value-based-decision-making-policing-north-wales-2012.pdf
- ^ a b Top Gear star drives car at boss cop. POLICE chiefs last night branded BBC Top Gear's latest attempt to ridicule chief constable Richard Brunstrom "tasteless" and "puerile." North Wales Daily Post. 26 MAY 2004, updated, 20 April 2013 https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/top-gear-star-drives-car-2930034
- ^ Police get tough with 'boy racers'. Last updated 30 June 2004. Accessed 18 November 2018. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/3853229.stm
- ^ "Brunstrom on his pride and regret". BBC News. 10 July 2009.
- ^ "Chief's daughter in speed claim". BBC News. 4 October 2003. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ "North Wales Live - Latest North Wales news, sport, what's on and business". Archived from the original on 21 November 2005.
- ^ "Police chief denies speed 'obsession'". BBC News. 30 July 2003. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20070930024022/http://www.bnp.org.uk/election2007/broadcasts/bnpwales_english.mp3 archived from the original on 30 Sep 2007
- ^ Watchdog inquiry over biker photo BBC Wales - 1 May 2007
- ^ a b Brunstrom criticised over photos BBC Wales - 9 November 2007
- ^ The chief who wanted ‘gore’ 10 November 2007
- ^ MP's call for Brunstrom to resign BBC Wales - 18 November 2007
- ^ Brunstrom would show photos again BBC Wales - 20 November 2007
- ^ Legalise all drugs: chief constable demands end to 'immoral laws' The Independent - 15 October 2007
- ^ Police chief is honoured as druid BBC Wales - 28 June 2006
- ^ Police chief 'duty' over speech BBC Wales - 15 April 2007
- ^ [1] Chief Constable's Blog - Dog Dirt Matters - 26 June 2008
- ^ "Chief constable zapped by Taser". BBC News. 5 July 2007.
- ^ "Police chief breaks into his HQ". BBC News. 17 December 2007.
- ^ UK list: "No. 58014". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 17 June 2006. p. 26.