Local news
OUTGOING police chiefs Richard Brunstrom and Clive Wolfendale have been likened to a pair of “prolific offenders” giving the run-around to other officers.
They’ve also been blasted for developing a culture of “blame and selfishness” in the force.
Both are due to leave North Wales Police soon – chief constable Brunstrom retires next month and his deputy Wolfendale takes up a post as chief executive of drug and alcohol charity Cais in September.
In the latest edition of the North Wales Police Federation newsletter Focus-Link, secretary Richard Eccles criticised the pair’s approach and said elements of their methods wouldn’t be missed.
In the same edition Inspector Mark Davies, recently elected chairman of the Inspectors’ Branch Board, took a dig at the extra volume of work that’s fallen on police in recent years as a result of “Mr Brunstrom’s performance-led policing”.
He said both Mr Brunstrom and his deputy had a negative impact on morale and attitude of officers.
Mr Eccles said the double retirement would mark the “end of an era” for policing in North Wales. He wrote: “Views differ on the end results and tactics, but it has never been dull or uneventful.
“I think most officers would agree our operational kit, vehicles and access to technology has never been better: That is a legacy of which both can be proud.
He added: “I am equally sure that other elements will not be missed.
“As a federation secretary my relationship with both was a bit like trying to police two prolific offenders on your patch.
“You knew they were always up to something, you could always catch them, if not always prove anything, and you knew that you could never truly believe them when they said ‘I won’t do it again’.”
When pressed on the remark, Mr Eccles said he wasn’t referring to illegal activity, but to the rapid-fire ways of the duo. “It’s a humorous comment. Obviously there is a relationship between us and the Force and we’re working towards the same goals, but sometimes there is conflict. They were always moving and changing things and we’d be trying to catch up with them.
“When we did, and told them what they’d done was wrong, they’d say they wouldn’t do it again. But inevitably we’d come back to it at a later stage. They certainly keep you fully occupied. I hope they enjoy a lengthy retirement from policing and we will see how long it takes for their first letter regarding policing to appear in the local press.”
Mr Davies wrote: “During Mr Brunstrom’s reign, and despite policies that demand otherwise, we seem to have developed a culture of blame and selfishness, where many – but not all – look out for themselves, whether that is identifying a scapegoat or taking credit for another person’s efforts. Is this Mr Brunstrom’s legacy or is this just the way society is developing? I shall have to wait and see.”
Clwyd West AM Darren Millar added: “As a former member of the North Wales Police Authority I could certainly echo these views.”
In a tongue-in-cheek response last night Brunstrom and Wolfendale said: “We know that Richard and Mark have struggled to keep up with the pace, but we’ve enjoyed dragging them along.”
Link:
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/nor...ndale-like-prolific-offenders-55578-23960284/
Just hope a certain Meredydd Hughes doesn't take over 
onyack
