THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARDl
The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
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Yesterday’s Daily Post carried a story by Kelly Fenna which reported that Richard Brunstrom, Chief Constable of North Wales Police, will retire in July.
In the late 1970s Rhyl developed a night club scene, and late-night drinking of alcohol led to a demand for other drugs – mostly of an illegal kind. While this problem grew, North Wales Police appeared to look the other way and give the matter low priority.
By January 2001 when Mr. Brunstrom became Chief the local drugs scene was virtually out of control, dealing was going on in broad daylight. Mr. Brunstrom threw up his hands and declared that we were losing ‘the fight against drugs’ and that the use of them ought to be decriminalised.
In Rhyl there was very little evidence that ‘the fight against drugs’ had ever been fought. What's more, decriminalisation would lead to an increase in the number of users and be a time bomb for the next generation in terms of the cost of care for addicts.
His attitude confirmed my suspicion that police officers’ first instinct is to reduce their workload regardless of social consequences. (They could reduce it considerably by decriminalising everything.) Mr. Brunstrom’s utterances on drugs and other matters, and his various publicity stunts, embarrassed even some of his most junior officers.
I won't feel sorry when he's gone.
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