:Richard Brunstrom

Brunstrom's father Geoff (1925-2016) was a geologist of Swedish descent.{{cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/article576287.ece?token=null&offset=12 | work=The Times | location=London | title=Interview Jasper Gerard meets Richard Brunstrom | date=9 October 2005 | accessdate=22 May 2010}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} 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).

He joined Sussex Police.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3462885.stm BBC News: 'Brunstrom: Road to controversy'] BBC Wales 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.[http://www.north-wales.police.uk/nwpv2/en/about/cc.asp Bio of Brunstrom] north-wales.police.uk

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.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 He expressed his willingness to prosecute MPs about any illegal expenses.BBC News Brunstrom 'may probe' MPs expenses, 17 May 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8054214.stm

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary praised Brunstrom's successful implementation of the performance culture. They also praised the consistently high proportion of crimes detected by North Wales Police which led to an out-of-court disposal or a court conviction and sentence. Under his leadership, the detection culture was a key feature of policing and a priority within the police force. For a number of years, North Wales Police was one of the leading forces in terms of its detection rate.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

He was ACPO's head of road policing policy. In North Wales, Brunstrom's "Arrive Alive" campaign against speeding drivers captured record numbers of speeding drivers.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 He personally supervised the crushing of two cars as part of his force's campaign against 'boy racers'.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 He said that the campaign had been successful in saving lives.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/8140400.stm|title=Brunstrom on his pride and regret|date=10 July 2009|publisher=BBC News}} The BBC Two programme Top Gear attacked him in a way described as "puerile" by North Wales Police. More attacks appeared in The Sun and the Daily Express, among other media.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_east/3163728.stm | work=BBC News | title=Chief's daughter in speed claim | date=4 October 2003 | accessdate=22 May 2010}}{{Cite web|url=http://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/regionalnews/content_objectid=13770709_method=full_siteid=50142_headline=-Enemy-of-the-state-name_page.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051121092230/http://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/regionalnews/content_objectid=13770709_method=full_siteid=50142_headline=-Enemy-of-the-state-name_page.html|archive-date=21 November 2005|title=North Wales Live - Latest North Wales news, sport, what's on and business}}{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/3111049.stm | work=BBC News | title=Police chief denies speed 'obsession' | date=30 July 2003 | accessdate=22 May 2010}} The BNP described him as "the Mad Mullah of the speed Taliban".https://web.archive.org/web/20070930024022/http://www.bnp.org.uk/election2007/broadcasts/bnpwales_english.mp3 archived from the original on 30 Sep 2007

In a private presentation to reporters in May 2007, Brunstrom launched a new approach to speeding, offering courses and training rather than points and fines. Brunstrom used a series of photographs of dead motorists to emphasize the seriousness of road safety. Mark Gibney was 40 years old, motorcycling at 95 mph, when he was decapitated in an accident in 2003.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6608917.stm Watchdog inquiry over biker photo] BBC Wales - 1 May 2007 Brunstrom had photographs of Gibney's decapitated body inserted after an earlier draft of the presentation was not "gruesome" enough. He was investigated by the IPCC, which found that he had broken no rules. However, it gave him a warning "for failing to warn the family that the images would be used."[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7085806.stm Brunstrom criticised over photos] BBC Wales - 9 November 2007 and for expecting to be able to show the images to reporters without their being reported.[http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2007/11/10/the-chief-who-wanted-gore-100252-20088570/ The chief who wanted ‘gore’ 10 November 2007] Albert Owen, the Labour MP for Anglesey, said that the controversy surrounding him overshadowed the work of the police.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7100711.stm MP's call for Brunstrom to resign] BBC Wales - 18 November 2007 However, public perception of the North Wales police did not worsen when Brunstrom was mentioned. Brunstrom apologised to Gibney's family and admitted making a mistake he regretted. He said that he would if given the choice use the photograph again, but would approach the family first.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7103193.stm Brunstrom would show photos again] BBC Wales - 20 November 2007

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.[https://web.archive.org/web/20071015081745/http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article3061121.ece Legalise all drugs: chief constable demands end to 'immoral laws'] The Independent - 15 October 2007 He was police co-ordinator on drugs policy across Wales.

Brunstrom has been praised for his learning and promotion of the Welsh language, in which he holds an A level. This has led to his being created an honorary Druid by the Gorsedd of Bards list at the 2006 National Eisteddfod,[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/5123112.stm Police chief is honoured as druid] BBC Wales - 28 June 2006 and in April 2007 he made a speech to Welsh communities pressure group Cymuned in which he urged politicians to update the 1993 Welsh Language Act, saying he was doing his duty by raising it.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6556433.stm Police chief 'duty' over speech] BBC Wales - 15 April 2007

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.[http://www.north-wales.police.uk/portal/blogs/cc/archive/2008/06/26/dog-dirt-matters.aspx] Chief Constable's Blog - Dog Dirt Matters - 26 June 2008

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.".{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/6980867.stm|title=Chief constable zapped by Taser|date=5 July 2007|publisher=BBC News}}

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.{{cite news|title=Police chief breaks into his HQ|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7147620.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=17 December 2007}}

He was head of the UK's National Wildlife Crime Unit.

Brunstrom was awarded the Queen's Police Medal (QPM) in the 2006 Birthday Honours.UK list: {{London Gazette |date=17 June 2006 |issue=58014 |pages=26 |supp=1}} He retired in 2009.

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Category:1954 births

Category:Living people

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