MP's call for Brunstrom to resign

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The chief constable of North Wales Police should resign after showing pictures of a decapitated motorcyclist, according to Anglesey MP Albert Owen.

The Labour MP told BBC Wales's Politics Show that Richard Brunstrom is "out of control" and controversy surrounding him overshadows the work of the police.

He said North Wales Police Authority should punish him when it meets this week to discuss a watchdog report into his decision to show the pictures.

Mr Brunstrom apologised for the images.

North Wales Police Authority said it would be discussing the issues raised in the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) report on Tuesday.

The report, published earlier this month, investigated complaints about Mr Brunstrom's use of photos of Mark Gibney, 40, at a private press briefing without telling his family.

He's out of control and I think they [the police authority] should take responsibility for that on Tuesday Albert Owen MP

It found Mr Brunstrom did not commit a criminal act but said the situation should have been avoided.

Mr Owen said the chief constable should step aside because controversy surrounding him distracts attention from the good work police in north Wales are doing.

"I personally think he should step aside," he said.

"I think it's very difficult for the police to do their work now because the attention is always on the chief constable and his actions with the media rather than the important work the police authorities and police across Wales do.

"North Wales is attracting attention for the wrong reasons."

He said that he had not called for Mr Brunstrom's resignation immediately after the IPCC report was published like Elfyn Llwyd MP and Martyn Jones MP.

But he said having now read the document, he felt action was needed.

Mark Gibney died in a motorcycle crash in 2003

"I wanted to see the report and I have seen the report and it's clear that he's broken protocol and he avoided consulting with the police authority after a protocol was set up for him to do so," Mr Owen said.

"So he's just ignoring them. He's out of control and I think they [the police authority] should take responsibility for that on Tuesday."

Mr Brunstrom has apologised "unreservedly" and taken personal blame for showing the pictures.

Mr Gibney, of Merseyside, 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.

The IPCC report said that Bill Gibney, Mark's father, had tried to shelter his family from detailed knowledge of the nature of his son's death in 2003.

Councillor Ian Roberts, Chair of the North Wales Police Authority, said: "We would like to thank the Independent Police Complaints Commission for the thoroughness of their investigation.

"The matter will now be referred to a special meeting of the Police Authority for consideration of the IPCC's report."