Gay Slur Cop Not Disciplined

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 19th Jul 2005

Richard Brunstrom, the Chief Constable of North Wales has not been disciplined for calling homosexuals "queer".

The Daily Post reports that during a closed meeting members of the North Wales Police Authority decided that Brunstrom's record in tackling discrimination meant he should not be disciplined for the gay slur.

Brunstrom made the comment at an internal meeting in March. He apologised for the statement after being challenged by a policeman and admitted that it had been "inappropriate."

At the time Brunstrom said he regretted making the remark which was "on the spur of the moment".

"I regret that I used an inappropriate word during an internal meeting," Brunstrom said in a statement.

"I was challenged and immediately apologised. I think the challenge reflects well on the modern culture of North Wales Police," he added.

However, the Gay Police Association has said that it was disappointed that the person in charge of policing in North Wales should have made such a comment.

"The Gay Police Association is shocked and disappointed that Chief Constable Brunstrom should use such abusive and insulting language," said Ian Saunders from the GPA.

"Mr Brunstrom is a chief constable who has previously demonstrated his commitment to equality for lesbian and gay staff and the GPA is pleased that when challenged he immediately apologised for the remark," he added

"His words will have affected the confidence that his lesbian and gay staff and the gay communities in north Wales he serves have in him.

"He should act quickly to demonstrate that this error of judgement is not indicative of a homophobic culture within his force."