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| MPs slam police chief 'gimmicks' | MPs slam police chief 'gimmicks' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A group of north Wales MPs will discuss "concerns" over chief constable Richard Brunstrom at a meeting in Westminster. | A group of north Wales MPs will discuss "concerns" over chief constable Richard Brunstrom at a meeting in Westminster. |
| Ian Lucas, MP for Wrexham, has accused Mr Brunstrom of ignoring requests for a meeting with the region's MPs. | Ian Lucas, MP for Wrexham, has accused Mr Brunstrom of ignoring requests for a meeting with the region's MPs. |
| The meeting follows claims by Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami, who has accused Mr Brunstrom of wasting a "frightening" amount of money on "gimmicks". | The meeting follows claims by Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami, who has accused Mr Brunstrom of wasting a "frightening" amount of money on "gimmicks". |
| The force said it would be happy to provide a "compelling response" if Mr Tami put his points directly to them. | The force said it would be happy to provide a "compelling response" if Mr Tami put his points directly to them. |
| From now on I think it is important Mr Brunstrom focuses on spending public money on policing, rather than self-promotion, fashion alterations, internal witch hunts and costly gimmicks Mark Tami MP | From now on I think it is important Mr Brunstrom focuses on spending public money on policing, rather than self-promotion, fashion alterations, internal witch hunts and costly gimmicks Mark Tami MP |
| The criticism of Mr Brunstrom comes just two days after North Wales Police announced it was being forced to cut 120 jobs because of a funding shortfall. | The criticism of Mr Brunstrom comes just two days after North Wales Police announced it was being forced to cut 120 jobs because of a funding shortfall. |
| The police chief blamed a reduction in funding combined with a possible cap on council tax rises. He said the UK Government had put "police finance into a really dreadful mess". | The police chief blamed a reduction in funding combined with a possible cap on council tax rises. He said the UK Government had put "police finance into a really dreadful mess". |
| Mr Lucas said the Labour group met members of the North Wales Police Authority two weeks ago to discuss concerns over funding and they promised to raise the matter with the Home Office. Mr Brunstrom did not attend the meeting. | Mr Lucas said the Labour group met members of the North Wales Police Authority two weeks ago to discuss concerns over funding and they promised to raise the matter with the Home Office. Mr Brunstrom did not attend the meeting. |
| He said: "We wrote to him about three months ago to ask for a meeting, but I don't think we've had a response. | He said: "We wrote to him about three months ago to ask for a meeting, but I don't think we've had a response. |
| "Perhaps he's too busy writing his blog," he added, referring to the police chief's controversial regular web diary. | "Perhaps he's too busy writing his blog," he added, referring to the police chief's controversial regular web diary. |
| Ian Lucas MP has asked for a meeting with Richard Brunstrom | Ian Lucas MP has asked for a meeting with Richard Brunstrom |
| "He's issuing highly politicised press releases attacking the government, but he doesn't keep us informed and as elected members we have to deal with a lot of concerns from our constituents over policing issues. | "He's issuing highly politicised press releases attacking the government, but he doesn't keep us informed and as elected members we have to deal with a lot of concerns from our constituents over policing issues. |
| "It's not a professional way to run a police force." | "It's not a professional way to run a police force." |
| He said the North Wales Labour group had fought hard for extra resources and had also supported the police authority in successfully opposing plans for an all-Wales force. | He said the North Wales Labour group had fought hard for extra resources and had also supported the police authority in successfully opposing plans for an all-Wales force. |
| But he said Mr Brunstrom did not apply for funding for police community support officers three years ago because he did not believe in the idea. | But he said Mr Brunstrom did not apply for funding for police community support officers three years ago because he did not believe in the idea. |
| As a member of parliament, Mr Tami is entitled to answers to all the questions he raises, and were he to put his points directly and appropriately to the force, he would receive a compelling response Deputy chief constable Clive Wolfendale | As a member of parliament, Mr Tami is entitled to answers to all the questions he raises, and were he to put his points directly and appropriately to the force, he would receive a compelling response Deputy chief constable Clive Wolfendale |
| Mark Tami, Labour MP for Alyn and Deeside, said: "Today there are more police than ever before in north Wales, but there has also been a frightening amount of money wasted on gimmicks. | Mark Tami, Labour MP for Alyn and Deeside, said: "Today there are more police than ever before in north Wales, but there has also been a frightening amount of money wasted on gimmicks. |
| "Questions should be asked about how much the free publications sent to all households cost. | "Questions should be asked about how much the free publications sent to all households cost. |
| "These publications featured a poem entitled 'Thank Heavens for Richard Brunstrom' which many of my constituents found distasteful. | "These publications featured a poem entitled 'Thank Heavens for Richard Brunstrom' which many of my constituents found distasteful. |
| "How much was also spent on changing the colour of the uniform? How much was wasted in a ludicrous internal inquiry into leaked police authority papers that resulted in its members having DNA samples taken?" | "How much was also spent on changing the colour of the uniform? How much was wasted in a ludicrous internal inquiry into leaked police authority papers that resulted in its members having DNA samples taken?" |
| He added: "From now on I think it is important Mr Brunstrom focuses on spending public money on policing, rather than self-promotion, fashion alterations, internal witch hunts and costly gimmicks." | He added: "From now on I think it is important Mr Brunstrom focuses on spending public money on policing, rather than self-promotion, fashion alterations, internal witch hunts and costly gimmicks." |
| Mr Tami claims 'frightening' amounts of money are being wasted | Mr Tami claims 'frightening' amounts of money are being wasted |
| In response to Mr Tami, deputy chief constable Clive Wolfendale said the force had recently been graded "excellent" for its resource management. | |
| He added: " Mark Tami's press release seems unnecessarily defensive and not a little frantic. | He added: " Mark Tami's press release seems unnecessarily defensive and not a little frantic. |
| "As a member of parliament, Mr Tami is entitled to answers to all the questions he raises, and were he to put his points directly and appropriately to the force, he would receive a compelling response." | "As a member of parliament, Mr Tami is entitled to answers to all the questions he raises, and were he to put his points directly and appropriately to the force, he would receive a compelling response." |
| Ynys Mon MP Albert Owen said he was "outraged" at Mr Brunstrom's handling of the recent jobs cuts announcement. Accusing him of scaremongering, he believes the police chief should have looked for alternative cuts in other areas. | Ynys Mon MP Albert Owen said he was "outraged" at Mr Brunstrom's handling of the recent jobs cuts announcement. Accusing him of scaremongering, he believes the police chief should have looked for alternative cuts in other areas. |
| He said: "I think a competent police officer would not look to scaremonger in the first instance, and look for alternatives." | He said: "I think a competent police officer would not look to scaremonger in the first instance, and look for alternatives." |