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Brunstrom 'in clear' over photo Brunstrom criticised over photos
(about 7 hours later)
A chief constable is likely to be told he will not face any action after he showed images of a man decapitated in a motorcycle accident. A chief constable has been criticised for showing pictures of a decapitated motorcyclist, but told by the police watchdog he will not face any action.
The images of Mark Gibney, 40, were shown by North Wales Police's Richard Brunstrom at a closed road safety briefing for journalists. An official report said North Wales Police's Richard Brunstrom left the family of Mark Gibney, 40, of Merseyside, "deeply distressed".
Mr Gibney's family complained and an inquiry was launched by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). The images were shown at a closed road safety briefing for journalists.
The report is expected to criticise his inconsideration towards the family. The family again called for him to quit after the report by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
Mr Brunstrom faced being disciplined or even sacked if the complaint that he broke the police code of conduct had been upheld. The IPCC had the power to recommend that Mr Brunstrom be disciplined or even sacked if the complaint had upheld.
Mr Gibney's family, from Merseyside, who had not given permission for the images to be used, said that they were caused extra grief and distress by the pictures. Ian Roberts, chair of the North Wales Police Authority, said the IPCC report would now be referred to a special meeting of the authority. North Wales Police declined to comment.
They have called for Mr Brunstrom to resign and have rejected an apology from the force. The use of these images without any forewarning for whatever purposes and with whatever justification, has left him [Mark Gibney's father] and his family deeply distressed IPCC report
His [Mr Brunstrom's] media briefing led to the gruesome details of Mark's death being revealed to Mark's widow Eileen and his children, who had previously been shielded from this information Mark Gibney's family In a statement, the family said: "By his actions, Richard Brunstrom caused the Gibney family profound, unnecessary and lasting distress.
The IPCC report is expected to say that Mr Brunstrom had not committed any criminal act by his actions, in terms of invasion of privacy or data protection. "Any chief constable occupies a position of great trust and yet it is clear Richard Brunstrom acted without the family's permission and with no thought to their welfare."
He had also not committed any specific breach of official police procedures. The IPCC report said Mr Brunstrom had not committed any criminal act by his actions, in terms of invasion of privacy or data protection, nor any specific breach of official police procedures.
However, the IPCC is expected to criticise Mr Brunstrom for the lack of consideration he showed the family, for failing to plan the media briefing properly and for breaching his own protocols about dealing with the media. However, the IPCC criticised Mr Brunstrom for failing to warn the family the images would be used.
It also said he lacked "sufficient planning, risk assessments and damage limitation actions, together with the lack of involvement of wider counsel," and needed "the highest quality advice".
The report quotes Mr Brunstrom saying in an e-mail that pictures that had initially been planned for the presentation were not "gruesome" enough, but the photos of Mr Gibney was "outstandingly good".
'Wounds and grief'
The report said Mr Gibney's father had "always made every effort to shelter his family from detailed knowledge of the nature of his son's death.
Mr Brunstrom used the images in an anti-speeding campaignMr Brunstrom used the images in an anti-speeding campaign
Mr Gibney died in 2003 when his bike crashed on a bend on the B5105 between Cerrigydrudion and Ruthin in Denbighshire. "The use of these images without any forewarning for whatever purposes and with whatever justification, has left him and his family deeply distressed.
An image of his severed head lying on a grass verge was shown to journalists and council officials during a private road safety presentation by Mr Brunstrom on 26 April 2007. "In a similar vein, this whole case will have re-opened the wounds and grief of the other family and officers involved in the original incident, many of whom continue to suffer to this day serious physical and mental trauma."
A photograph of his headless torso was also shown, as well as photographs of the bodies of two young men killed in a separate crash. The report said that the incident "could, and possibly should, have been avoided".
'Lasting distress' What he hoped would be a public celebration of the force's success over recent years turned out to be a national public furore IPCC report
It said: "Richard Brunstrom is a high-profile campaigner in the country against excessive speed by those who use our roads.
"What he hoped would be a public celebration of the force's success over recent years turned out to be a national public furore over the identification and re-publication of the details of one previous case.
"The report speaks for itself on the lack of sufficient planning, risk assessments and damage limitation actions, together with the lack of involvement of wider counsel, all of which might have avoided this incident."
The IPCC said there was a need to "reflect carefully" on the relationship between the media and North Wales Police.
"Richard Brunstrom has strong views on policing issues, is forthright in expressing them and consequently attracts intense media interest," the report said.
'Robust advice'
"He therefore needs the highest quality advice and procedures when embarking on such matters."
The IPCC said Mr Brunstrom was "best served by robust advice from his media and legal advisers in the planning of public statements and events".
It also said the police authority had a large part to play in "bridge-building and improved working", and was "required to hold the force to account".
Mr Gibney died in 2003 when his bike crashed on a bend between Cerrigydrudion and Ruthin in Denbighshire.
An image of his severed head lying on a grass verge was shown to journalists and council officials during a private road safety presentation in April 2007.
Afterwards, Mr Brunstrom said the pictures had been shown in confidence and accused some sections of the media of "distorting" the meeting.Afterwards, Mr Brunstrom said the pictures had been shown in confidence and accused some sections of the media of "distorting" the meeting.
He also defended his actions, saying he had shown the images to "give the context" of his anti-speeding campaign.He also defended his actions, saying he had shown the images to "give the context" of his anti-speeding campaign.
One month after the presentation, Mr Gibney's family met the IPCC, which reviewed the case following a voluntary referral from North Wales Police Authority.
Following the results of the investigation, the family called for Mr Brunstrom's resignation.
In a statement they said: "By his actions, Richard Brunstrom caused the Gibney family profound, unnecessary and lasting distress."
This is not the first time Mr Brunstrom has been investigated by the IPCC.
An earlier investigation focused on how allegations against a former clerk to North Wales Police Authority were dealt with and another was a complaint when a rape victim was accidentally named in a report to the police authority.
A further inquiry was held after Mr Brunstrom called a press conference and criticised a man who complained about a speeding conviction.