Alison Halford, Councillor

View the full article at my blog Is this justice? Read more North Wales concerns at: http://www.properpolicing.org.uk/ Proper Policing North Wales The PPP, People for Proper Policing in North Wales are a group of citizens from all walks of life, and political persuasions, who are concerned about the direction policing is going in North Wales.

Dear Members, The humiliating epithet that described your chief constable in the 16th November Chronicle, must surely apply to you as the Authority responsible for overseeing an effective and efficient force. You are a collection of JPs, Home Office ‘Place People’, (serving with Home Office approval) and elected councillors, entrusted to serve the people who captured our vote. As allegedly responsible people, why do you allow the chief constable to continue to heap embarrassment on a fine profession with gaffe after gaffe? You dictate the length of this officer’s contract. You alone can mount a discipline enquiry into his continued poor judgement and together with other unfortunate mishaps; you know why he was unceremoniously removed as the ACPO spokesperson on traffic issues. I possess a letter signed by a former chairman agreeing that the chief constable had been intemperate in lashing out at me through a letter’s page when I chided him in a column over his performance years ago. His Authority agreed to offer him advice! Mr Brunstrom’s collective failings makes him barely fit to hold the office of constable let alone be allowed to continue to lead a major Welsh force ( Should I be the judge? Who …..

Rhodri Morgan queues for Leeks. 6th November found me and publisher Jeremy Mills in the new Welsh Assembly Debating Chamber- the Senedd with 27 copies of “Leeks from the Back Benches”, for the launch by Nick Bourne, the official Opposition Leader in the lofty gallery of that controversial but beautiful building. Having left the Assemlby in 2003, the book covers my personal and professional experience as an AM during the first four tumultuous years of Devolution in Wales. Press, media and politicians had come out in force together with a lone brave Labour AM, with whom I shared the back row in Plenary before I hung up my political boots.No, I tell a lie: an even more distinguished Labour AM presented himself. With the books laid out and people jostling to thumb the pages, I looked up and was startled to see Rhodri Morgan, the First Minister heading the queue. Flattered, I burbled my delight at seeing him particularly in the circumstances! Can’t stay long, he smiled, I’ve got to prepare for Question Time. Archly, he professed to have missed my change of political allegiance from his Party to the Conservatives. Nick rolled up and we all exchanged pleasant banter …..

Although Rhodri Morgan is deeply immersed in the problems of keeping his party in power in Cardiff, and frantically attempting to find someone from the ‘Rainbow Coalition’ to keep his government afloat, he was on the ball when he threw his support behind Harriet Harman for the Deputy Leadership contest. Peter Hain’s website gives a slideshow of which MPs and AMs are supporting him. Not that many considering that the Welsh Secretary should be able to rely on his numerous Welsh MPs and AMs. Paul Flynn MP, a man I rate has changed his mind but the ever moving blurb on the website does not go into detail. Not surprising really!Peter and I were great chums during my first fledgling steps across the Labour Party threshold when I was picking my way to becoming a candidate to stand as an AM. Whenever we met, he would tease me that I had arrested him when I was a Metropolitan bobby and he was the great anti-apartheid supremo. I have no recollection of feeling his collar although I had been on duty when the police almost lost the battle of Grosvenor Square, when the American Embassy almost fell to an angry mob. …..

According to media coverage, the head of the Civil Service has accused Tony Blair’ of taking the single handed decision to not to re-appoint Sir Alistair Graham, the chairman of Government’s ethical standards committee. As Sir Alistair will not be allowed to stay on from April, This is the first step to effectively close down this important Government Watchdog. The word ‘revenge’ is on MP’s lips. Informed opinion believes the committee will wither without an effective chairman and thus a vital instrument to check and balance overweening arrogance of our political masters is now in serious jeopardy. Tony Blair’s determination to oust his critic; a man in high office just doing his job for once chimes ominously with Robert Mugabe’s appalling response to the violent beating of his political opponents at a Prayer Rally. With Morgan Tsvangirai and 13 members of the Democratic Opposition lying in a Harare hospital, suspected fractured skull, together with ripped ears and broken limbs, Mugabe response to his western critics, was ‘go hang’. How monstrous that human rights play no part in the Mugabe regime. How monstrous that our Prime Minister seems ready, albeit at a much lesser level to tell us that when it …..

17th March 2007. Dear Monitoring Officer, Councillor T Renshaw- Complaint under Councillor rules for unbecoming conduct and bullying behaviour.I attended a meeting that was hosted in County Hall on 16th March 2007 where members of the public who have formed themselves into a pressure group, People for Proper Policing in North Wales.(PPP) met to give presentations to the audience about numerous concerns relating to the North Wales Police. Cllr Renshaw was seated close to the door and he seemed very off-hand when I acknowledged him. The chairman, a Mr Bill Shaw was hardly allowed to finish his opening remarks when Cllr Renshaw began a tirade against the PPP members. How had details of the meeting been circulated was his opening salvo and he refused to accept that flyers had been placed in councillors message boxes. He accused PPP of all having speeding fines, and abusively and aggressively refused to stop interrupting despite the best and patient efforts of the chairman to get the meeting back to some order. Several people were becoming concerned with Cllr Renshaw?s continued hectoring and obstructive manner, particularly when he announced it was his intention to disrupt the meeting and implied that he was not leaving …..

I got a proposal of marriage on Monday. I’ve known the proposer for some forty years and he managed to track me down a few months ago. I fear I am far to old to get hitched and the animals might not be accepted, but it cheered me up no end. My spiritual life has been rather upended by trouble with the Catholic priest in my parish and things have come to such a state, that I can no longer worship there and must now wander round the other local churches in order to fulfil my Sunday duty to hear Mass. The problem started not with me but with two very devout parishioners, who were the mainstay of the church. One played an instrument every Sunday and the other looked after the financial affairs of collecting our dues. The couple were embroiled in a huge row in the church when the priest’s housekeeper found the need to challenge them. I was not there but the story, much repeated indicated that it was a one sided spat and after that, the couple were so upset, they never returned to the church despite much pleading and cajoling from parish members.

CORIANDER COMES TO STAY.   My Fur family grew by one on 15th January when a Short Haired British Chocolate Tabby aged six months joined the gang of Hufflepuff, Bunter and Fidget. Her breeder, Jill told me to plonk her down by the dogs and it would all work out. Gingerly, holding her beyond reach, I showed her to each dog. A look of pure malice sprang into the normally loving eyes of the Schnauzer and Fidget the miniature Dachshund looked equally unwelcoming. Bunter, the Pug was beside himself with curiosity and would have risked a paw in his face had I followed breeder?s advice. New tactics were required and thus little Coriander plus litter tray and food was taken up to the bathroom and a barrier firmly placed at the bottom of the staircase.   She took refuge in the smallest space under a bedroom table which had to be dismantled to get her out. This hide and seek routine went on all day until the evening when I took her downstairs to meet the dogs by slow degrees. I rang a cat friend for advice. ?She?s be the boss?, Cat friend pronounced authoritively. I had my doubts as …..

Holidays and birds were my favourite memories of 2006. Chile, South America; last February was memorable for two reasons, one pleasant, one horrid. Despite upgrading my self to Business Class, Iberia Airlines lost my suitcase for seven days and the misery and inconvenience nearly wrecked my holiday. Existing on the clothes I travelled in from a wintry UK, supplemented by the few I was able to buy, was wretched indeed. I now realise how much of value goes into one?s baggage. SAGA rep, Christina, worked tirelessly to badger the lost luggage people into action. Fortunately, her determination paid off. Having found a shop at last to buy clothes, the bag caught up with me. When I pursued compensation, Iberia behaviour was breathtakingly unhelpful and arrogant. As their office is in Madrid, they seem untouchable, an opinion the Saga staff shared with me and as Iberia has the monopoly of flights to Chile, their mean minded attitude is well known to SAGA staff. Sight of the majestic Andean Condor riding the thermals high above the snow capped Andes on lofty 10 to 12 foot wingspan was wonderful. Patagonia is one of the windiest spots on earth and it did not disappoint. …..

How Flintshire people are punished for going a few miles over the limit and with nine cameras hunting us down across the country, it?s a real money earner for the Arrive Alive/Police partnership. The unfairness in how punishment is applied to those caught is another shocking indictment to those in authority over us. Pensioner Betty is caught on Gladstone Way, Hawarden by a mobile device, having already run the gauntlet of a fixed camera in the same road. She then reads that a police officer speeds to collect his Chinese take-away- (ON DUTY) and the dumb Magistrates let him off! Imagine the outrage and sense of unfairness. She has to stump up sixty pounds from her pension whilst our well paid enforcer of the law is smiling all the way back for his next order at the Chip Shop. The Justices should be called to account. Every time we about read such blatant favouritism, the whole system of justice losses still further credibility. Police officers should not be allowed to break the speed limit for footling reasons and sadly, the officer?s pathetic excuse lent further weight to doubts on his suitability to wear the uniform. The Lord Chancellor should challenge …..