Family wants Brunstrom 'removed'

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The family at the centre of a row over pictures of a decapitated biker has renewed its call for the North Wales Police chief constable to be sacked.

Mark Gibney's relatives said they were "disappointed" the force's police authority had not dismissed Mr Brunstrom after a meeting on Tuesday.

Mr Brunstrom was criticised for showing pictures of Mr Gibney at a briefing without the family's permission.

The chief constable said he would do the same again, with "safeguards".

Mr Brunstrom was criticised by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) for showing the pictures of 40-year-old Mr Gibney, who died in a motorcycle crash in Denbighshire in 2003.

In our view, the honourable course of action would be for him to tender his resignation Gibney family statement

He appeared before North Wales Police Authority on Tuesday to explain his actions, and apologised again to the Gibney family.

The police authority has stood by Mr Brunstrom, and said it would work closely with him to ensure future "safeguards" were in place.

In response, the Gibney family's 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 judgement of Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom.

"The family is disappointed that 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.

"His actions caused the Gibney family a great deal of unnecessary distress and although the Independent Police Complaints Commission said he had not broken any laws or the police code of conduct, the affair was completely avoidable."

The statement said Mr Brunstrom had continued to blame the media rather than accept "sole responsibility", adding: "In our view, the honourable course of action would be for him to tender his resignation."