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Calls for Police Chief to Resign after he Displays Picture of Headless Illegal Bike Rider
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A police chief used graphic photographs of a decapitated motorcycle rider to drive home his anti-speeding message.
Richard Brunstrom, Chief Constable of North Wales; AKA., ‘The Mad Mullah of the Traffic Taliban’, displayed the horrific images without consulting the dead man's family.
One showed the man's head, with the eyes still open , on a grass verge, still encased in the helmet, with the visor raised.
Another showed the man's torso - in a T-shirt emblazoned with an anti-traffic police slogan - embedded in a car.
Campaigners condemned Mr Brunstrom's actions as "deplorable" and called for his resignation.
The gruesome pictures were shown to journalists and local authority representatives at a meeting to promote the force's road safety work.
Chief Superintendent Geraint Anwyl said that a young family was trapped inside the car, into which the headless torso was embedded, for 90 minutes.
Another image showed two males, aged 25 and 16, lying dead by the side of a mangled car.
Both accidents were caused by the excessive speed of the dead men.
The Mad Mullah of the Traffic Taliban said the images were shown to drive home the horror caused by dangerous driving.
"We did it to serve a purpose. The images are there to make an impact today," he said.
He confirmed that the families of the dead men were not aware the images were being used in the presentation.
Although their identities were not given, the presentation also included details of a distinctive T-shirt worn by the motorcyclist, which mocked traffic police with the message: "P**s off and catch some real criminals."
This is buffoonery of the highest order. It is short-term shock-horror that drives a wedge between the police and the public.
Anti-speed camera protester, the self- styled Captain Gatso, said: "This further damages the relationship between the police and the public.
"It is another example of over-the-top policing that we have seen with the failed speed camera policy.
"Doesn't the family of the deceased have rights? They should have been asked for permission before these images were shown. It's unbelievable."
Mr Brunstrom claims his long campaign to improve road safety now enjoyed the support of 70 per cent of the public.
He said North Wales Police led the world in reducing road deaths and his force had saved 53 lives since 2001.
He promised that the next phase of the campaign would be "softer edged, with more education and less punishment".
Brunstom's final blunder?
Further details are emerging about the hideous photographs displayed by Chief Constable Brunstrom.
- The biker driving recklessly at 125mph was photographed by a speed camera van at 10am and died 6 hours later at 4pm.
- North Wales Police did nothing
- The crash took place on 14th September 2003 - when Mr Brunstrom's policies were in full swing.
- The biker's name was Mark Gibney. He was riding with no licence, no insurance and an altered registration mark.
Paul Smith, of www.safespeed.org.uk, said: "Brunstrom is the architect of modern speed camera policy, but he's a blundering buffoon. The policy was wrong from the start and has failed to save lives.
"This latest epic blunder will surely be his last. It's impossible to understand how he might survive it. Brunstrom must go and go now."
"Speed camera policy didn't save this biker or anyone else. Proper roads policing prevents dangerous driving, but speed cameras don't. Speed cameras have failed as a policy and they must go."
MP seeks talks over dead rider photos
Apr 27 2007icWales
An MP sought a meeting with the Home Secretary today over a chief constable’s decision to use photographs of a decapitated motorcyclist to emphasise his road safety message.
North Wales Police Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom showed the images of 40-year-old Mark Gibney, who died in 2003, during a private meeting with journalists yesterday.
Mr Gibney, of Liverpool, was not named during the presentation but details of his distinctive T-shirt, which bore an anti-police message, were given.
The T-shirt received widespread publicity during Mr Gibney’s inquest, and effectively identified him to the audience.
North Wales Police did not tell the dead man’s family of the plans to use the pictures.
His partner Eileen Burke told the Liverpool Echo: “We should have been asked. We are trying to put this behind us. His death should not be dragged up again.”
Bob Wareing, Labour MP for the West Derby area of Liverpool, where Mr Gibney lived, said he planned to raise the issue with the Home Secretary.
He said: “I’ve not spoken to John Reid personally today, as he is at a conference, but I have spoken to one of his top officials, who is making him fully aware of my concerns.
“I hope to see him in the Lobby on Monday, when I will meet with John to discuss it further.
“I believe that Mr Brunstrom deserves to be reprimanded, at the least.”
He added: “It mystifies me how someone who seems to have so little common sense can be in such an exalted position.”
The force did not release the pictures for publication, and banned filming and photography when they were shown during the meeting.
Mr Brunstrom said they were shown to give journalists the context of his campaign against speeding motorists.
“The images are there to make a visual impact,” he said.
Police chief runs into fresh trouble as speed trap proves unlawful
CHIEF Constable Richard Brunstrom’s anti-speeding crackdown faced yet more ridicule.
Only a day after he came under fire for showing a picture of the decapitated head of a motorcyclist at a road safety news conference, it was announced that 3,000 motorists trapped by a camera van are to get their fines refunded and licence points restored.
And a speed trap which has brought bitter criticism from locals who claim it was introduced surreptitiously on the A5 at Bangor has been proven unlawful.
The limit had been reduced last summer from 40mph to 30mph – but yesterday it was revealed there had been a blunder.
The camera was part of the Arrive Alive scheme, which Mr Brunstrom claims is backed by three-quarters of the population, and which nabbed 80,000 drivers last year.
But solicitor Ray Woodward discovered that on the site of the A5 speed camera, a Road Traffic Order made in 1981 had never been revoked, which meant that the speed restriction was 40mph, not 30mph, and still is. As the signage is unlawful you can not commit an offence of exceeding the lower restriction.
Mr Woodward represented three clients, all driving at less than 40mph, who had pleaded not guilty to speeding and whose cases will now be dismissed by magistrates at Caernarfon next week.
Many other motorists have also denied speeding and have been waiting for the result of these cases before deciding what to do next.
In a statement yesterday the CPS said it had written to 38 defendants who faced speeding charges next week “informing them that the proceedings against them will be dropped”.
The head of the CPS Western Unit, Gerallt Evans, said, “During the course of the CPS review, North Wales Police drew the CPS’s attention to the fact that the relevant section of road was the subject of a Traffic Order made in 1981. This Order imposed a 40 mph limit.”
A Gwynedd County Council spokesman said, “We are urgently reviewing the implications of this decision and its impact on traffic management in the Bangor area.”
Brunstrom - Should He Stay Or Should He Go - Now!
The Motorcycle Action Group fully support the family of Mark Gibney, the motorcyclist fatally injured in a tragic accident, whose images were disclosed to journalists by North Wales Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom.
Such a crass and insensitive tactic to sensationalise a 'road safety' message without the consent and support of the family can never be justified under any circumstances.
The public have become used to a certain degree of shock tactics where the police, with full consent of families disclose images to the press to demonstrate the potential consequences of some accidents, drug abuse and other social ills. However to do so without any consideration of the feelings of the families and loved ones demonstrates a catastrophic lack of judgement and ethical conduct.
The Motorcycle Action Group have been inundated with telephone calls and e-mails from MAG members expressing disgust at the Chief Constables actions, demanding that action should be taken. This abhorrence is also reflected in the wider motorcycling community.
In recognition of this deep felt injustice the Motorcycle action Group will be making representations on behalf of the MAG membership and the wider biking community to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabularies, the North Wales Police Authority and the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
MAG Campaigns Manager David Short said, “Richard Brunstrom seems to delight in courting controversy in his personal road safety crusade. This latest demonstration of the tactics he considers legitimate is a serious misjudgement and has far reaching ethical implications. It is totally unacceptable. Our sympathies go to Mark's family and loved ones. They can be assured of the full support of MAG.”
Notes to Editors
1. You can vote in MAGs Poll on Brunstrom and email MAG using the Feedback Form to register your concerns. This will add weight to the official letters from MAG to HMIC, Police Authority and IPCC.
2. Website Here
3. David Short can be contacted on:
Mobile – 077389 48080
Office - 01347 822214
Email: campaigns-manager@mag-uk.org
Issued by
Trevor Baird
Public Affairs Director
MAG UK
PO BOX 750
Rugby
CV21 3ZR
Tel: +44 (0)870 444 8 448
Fax: +44 (0)870 444 8 449
Email public-affairs@mag-uk.org
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