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Brunstrom on his pride and regret Brunstrom on his pride and regret
(9 minutes later)
Richard Brunstrom, the retiring head of North Wales Police, has spoken of his pride at bringing down crime and regret over the times he "became the story".Richard Brunstrom, the retiring head of North Wales Police, has spoken of his pride at bringing down crime and regret over the times he "became the story".
He has become one of the UK's most high profile policemen with outspoken views on topics such as drugs and traffic.He has become one of the UK's most high profile policemen with outspoken views on topics such as drugs and traffic.
As he leaves, the chief constable told BBC Wales that crime had fallen by nearly half during his eight years.As he leaves, the chief constable told BBC Wales that crime had fallen by nearly half during his eight years.
He said the nickname "mad mullah of the traffic Taliban" given to him by the press was "humorous but quite stupid".He said the nickname "mad mullah of the traffic Taliban" given to him by the press was "humorous but quite stupid".
He said he regretted the times when he became the story, rather than the subject he was addressing.He said he regretted the times when he became the story, rather than the subject he was addressing.
href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6729&edition=1&ttl=20090710132614">HAVE YOUR SAY href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6729&edition=1&ttl=20090710132614">Thank goodness this man has gone. He has done more to destroy the confidence of the populace in the police since the likes of James Anderton Stuart, Wrexham href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6730&edition=1&ttl=20090710134022">HAVE YOUR SAY href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6730&edition=1&ttl=20090710134022">Thank goodness this man has gone. He has done more to destroy the confidence of the populace in the police since the likes of James Anderton Stuart, Wrexham
In a wide-ranging interview, Mr Brunstrom spoke about the "exciting" time he had spent with North Wales Police, but he now plans to "sell everything" to buy a boat and go sailing with his wife.In a wide-ranging interview, Mr Brunstrom spoke about the "exciting" time he had spent with North Wales Police, but he now plans to "sell everything" to buy a boat and go sailing with his wife.
"I feel we've had a very successful period and have the results to show for it, with crime down significantly by nearly 50%," he said."I feel we've had a very successful period and have the results to show for it, with crime down significantly by nearly 50%," he said.
Of his pursuit of cutting down on speeding on the roads in north Wales, he said: "This is a serious issue and too many people are being injured on our roads.Of his pursuit of cutting down on speeding on the roads in north Wales, he said: "This is a serious issue and too many people are being injured on our roads.
"Still, the figures in Britain, and locally, are the lowest they've been since the 1920s. That's success any which way you look at it, but there's still more to do.""Still, the figures in Britain, and locally, are the lowest they've been since the 1920s. That's success any which way you look at it, but there's still more to do."
Mr Brunstrom said he was not bothered by alienating some people through his approach, as it was "impossible to please people all the time".Mr Brunstrom said he was not bothered by alienating some people through his approach, as it was "impossible to please people all the time".
RICHARD BRUNSTROM'S CAREER 1979: Joined Sussex Police as a zoology graduate from Bangor University1990: Joined Greater Manchester Police as a superintendent, and was a regular match commander at Old Trafford1995: Appointed assistant chief constable in Cleveland, later becoming deputy chief constable 2000: Joined North Wales Police2001: Succeeded Michael Argent as chief constable. Told his police authority that decriminalising drugs including heroin and cocaine would help to wipe out a multi-million pound criminal trade2002: Called for a "cultural shift" in attitudes to speeding2003: A retired assistant chief constable tells Mr Brunstrom to "get a grip" and claims he has an "obsession" with speeding drivers2005: Claims to be the first police constable to start a blog 2006: Created an honorary druid by the gorsedd of bards at the Eisteddfod for his learning and promotion of the Welsh language2007: Criticised for showing pictures of a decapitated biker at a briefing as part of his anti-speeding campaign and apologised. Subjected himself to 50,000v to demonstrate his support for taser trial. Reportedly broke into his force HQ to test security2009: Co-presented the Jeremy Vine Show on BBC Radio 2RICHARD BRUNSTROM'S CAREER 1979: Joined Sussex Police as a zoology graduate from Bangor University1990: Joined Greater Manchester Police as a superintendent, and was a regular match commander at Old Trafford1995: Appointed assistant chief constable in Cleveland, later becoming deputy chief constable 2000: Joined North Wales Police2001: Succeeded Michael Argent as chief constable. Told his police authority that decriminalising drugs including heroin and cocaine would help to wipe out a multi-million pound criminal trade2002: Called for a "cultural shift" in attitudes to speeding2003: A retired assistant chief constable tells Mr Brunstrom to "get a grip" and claims he has an "obsession" with speeding drivers2005: Claims to be the first police constable to start a blog 2006: Created an honorary druid by the gorsedd of bards at the Eisteddfod for his learning and promotion of the Welsh language2007: Criticised for showing pictures of a decapitated biker at a briefing as part of his anti-speeding campaign and apologised. Subjected himself to 50,000v to demonstrate his support for taser trial. Reportedly broke into his force HQ to test security2009: Co-presented the Jeremy Vine Show on BBC Radio 2
He argued that there had been "overwhelming" public support for his traffic policies, but there was a group which thought "they are the world's best driver, and they have the right to ignore the speed limit".He argued that there had been "overwhelming" public support for his traffic policies, but there was a group which thought "they are the world's best driver, and they have the right to ignore the speed limit".
On drugs, he said he was "certain" that a time would come when drugs would be decriminalised, with a move towards a "more intellectual" approach to drug use.On drugs, he said he was "certain" that a time would come when drugs would be decriminalised, with a move towards a "more intellectual" approach to drug use.
He also reiterated his support for a prison in Gwynedd because of a "economic and surprisingly cultural benefit", through a bilingual society.He also reiterated his support for a prison in Gwynedd because of a "economic and surprisingly cultural benefit", through a bilingual society.
Mr Brunstrom said too many people were sent to prison in the UK, and there were alternatives.Mr Brunstrom said too many people were sent to prison in the UK, and there were alternatives.
"There needs to be a wider ranging debate on the purpose of prison," he said."There needs to be a wider ranging debate on the purpose of prison," he said.
On the political side of his role as chief constable, he said he supported complete self-governance for Wales, and was sure it would happen.On the political side of his role as chief constable, he said he supported complete self-governance for Wales, and was sure it would happen.
He argued that it was his role as a senior chief constable to "talk about topical issues and by definition that involves issues that are political".He argued that it was his role as a senior chief constable to "talk about topical issues and by definition that involves issues that are political".
As a chief constable, he was barred from party politics, and Mr Brunstrom said he had remained "scrupulously neutral".As a chief constable, he was barred from party politics, and Mr Brunstrom said he had remained "scrupulously neutral".
"There are clear boundaries and I've never knowingly overstepped them," he said."There are clear boundaries and I've never knowingly overstepped them," he said.
Of his tabloid image, Mr Brunstrom said it was one of the "problems of modern life that the media tends to personalise stories too much to get a human interest angle... which means the actual debate is lost.Of his tabloid image, Mr Brunstrom said it was one of the "problems of modern life that the media tends to personalise stories too much to get a human interest angle... which means the actual debate is lost.
Richard Brunstrom chose to be tasered to experience the effectRichard Brunstrom chose to be tasered to experience the effect
"It has happened to me on more than one occasion and I regret it," he said. "I don't welcome being the story; I don't get a kick out of being the story.""It has happened to me on more than one occasion and I regret it," he said. "I don't welcome being the story; I don't get a kick out of being the story."
He said he was not the only person to become involved in the "worldwide global development of the way the media operates," but there was no hesitation in accepting that he was sometimes wrong.He said he was not the only person to become involved in the "worldwide global development of the way the media operates," but there was no hesitation in accepting that he was sometimes wrong.
"Every human being on the planet must feel that," he said."Every human being on the planet must feel that," he said.
"Good managers get 60% of their decisions right; that means in retrospect that the other 40% were a bad call."Good managers get 60% of their decisions right; that means in retrospect that the other 40% were a bad call.
"That's true of me, as for anybody else of course... and some of my decisions are quite impactive ones.""That's true of me, as for anybody else of course... and some of my decisions are quite impactive ones."
Do your own thing - plough your own furrow - be your own person Richard Brunstrom's advice to his successorDo your own thing - plough your own furrow - be your own person Richard Brunstrom's advice to his successor
His future should be quieter, certainly as far as his presence in the media goes.His future should be quieter, certainly as far as his presence in the media goes.
"I never sought to court attention. I hope I'm talking about topics that merit attention because they're important topics," he said."I never sought to court attention. I hope I'm talking about topics that merit attention because they're important topics," he said.
He said the police, and the whole of the public sector, would struggle for funding over the next few years.He said the police, and the whole of the public sector, would struggle for funding over the next few years.
"The only question is, how bad is it going to get?"The only question is, how bad is it going to get?
"Policing has to fit in to society, to take its place in the road building programme, and social services and hospitals - we have to slot in," he added."Policing has to fit in to society, to take its place in the road building programme, and social services and hospitals - we have to slot in," he added.
And his advice for his successor? "Do your own thing. Plough your own furrow. Be your own person."And his advice for his successor? "Do your own thing. Plough your own furrow. Be your own person."