Brunstrom should resign, say dead biker's familyTHE FAMILY of a dead biker at the heart of a public row over police chief Richard Brunstrom's professional conduct have again called for his resignation. Last week Brunstrom, chief constable for the North Wales Police Authority, said he:
"Had been stupid and made a mistake," following outrage at his using images of deceased biker Paul Gibney as part of a press briefing about an upcoming road safety campaign. Gibney, 40, from Liverpool died in an accident in Denbighshire in 2003.
Brunstrom has apologised to the Gibney family and a recent investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) concluded that Brunstrom had not broken any laws. The IPCC went on to add that it felt the matter could have been avoided.
Gibney family solicitor Paul Beck said, "We are grateful for the apology and sympathy extended to the Gibney family by North Wales Police Authority " but the very fact they were put in a position where they had to say sorry speaks volumes about the behaviour and judgment of chief constable Richard Brunstrom.
"The family is disappointed the authority did not see fit to remove Mr Brunstrom from his post. They note that on previous occasions the chief constable has breached protocol and there is little comfort in his reassurance that he will not do so again. The family find it hard to accept Mr Brunstrom's belated apology. He seems determined to blame the media rather than accept sole responsibility.
"He personally selected the photographs. In our view, the honourable course of action would be for him to tender his resignation."
