Police chief rejects brutality claims

Conditions in some police cells were criticised

The chief constable of South Wales has hit back at critics following allegations of brutality against his force.

Sir Anthony Burden said media coverage of the claims had been "biased", and attacked "whinging and moaning" people for criticising officers who were trying to do a good job.

His comments came after Europe's anti-torture watchdog called for an inquiry into the alleged ill-treatment of suspects by the force.

Sir Anthony said he would support a public inquiry, if only to silence critics "who have not event taken the trouble to come and look at the policing in south Wales before they fire from the hip with misguided comments".

I am fed up of the whinging and moaning of people who attack the police service

Sir Anthony Burden

Both a Home Office inspector and Independent Custody Visitors had given positive reports on the force, he said.

The Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) called for an inquiry after speaking to a number of young inmates in south Wales.

But Sir Anthony said: "I am fed up of the whinging and moaning of people who attack the police service and in particular my South Wales Police officers who are trying their very best to do a first class job.

"The [CPT] report has been so much taken out of context that the media coverage has been completely biased. Anyone, anytime is welcome to come into a custody suite in south Wales to see that way prisoners are treated."

Regional 'gulf'

The CPT said it found a "noticeable gulf" in standards between England and Wales, and dirty conditions in one Cardiff police station.

Its report noted: "In the prison establishments visited in or around London, the delegation heard no allegations of ill-treatment by the police.

Sir Anthony Burden is fed up with "whinging and moaning" police critics

"By contrast, a number of young persons interviewed separately at both Parc Prison [in Bridgend] and Hillside Secure Centre [in Neath] alleged that they had been ill-treated by police officers in different parts of Wales."

The delegation regularly visits the UK but this visit, in February 2001, was its first time in Wales.

South Wales Police insisted all complaints of ill-treatment would be "thoroughly investigated".

'Dirty' cells

Other complaints against Welsh police forces included claims that officers had delayed or obstructed access to legal advice.

The delegation also found the conditions of cells at Cardiff Central police station to be "dirty and poorly ventilated."

The delegation spoke to inmates at Parc Prison

And it said some of the people interviewed - including police officers - said similar conditions existed in other police stations in Wales.

The delegation urged police and government departments to make sure that arrested people were held in appropriate conditions.

A Home Office spokesman said chief constables in Wales were anxious to make it clear that "inappropriate treatment" of detained people was not acceptable.

He added that all Welsh police forces were reviewing their detention facilities.