Police chief wife's inquiry call

The force said it could not respond to Jacqui Brereton's claims

The wife of the deputy chief constable of north Wales has called for a Home Office inquiry into the way the chief constable has handled allegations made against her husband.

Jacqui Brereton, speaking with her husband Bill's approval, also accused Richard Brunstrom of being "unprofessional" in the way he dealt with her husband's case and of having bullied him.

North Wales Police said it was "impossible" to discuss the matter as there was an inquiry into Mr Brereton.

In her first television interview, to be broadcast on Thursday on BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye programme, Mrs Brereton also claimed that Mr Brunstrom tried to get him to leave the force.

Mr Brereton, who is on sick leave, is the subject of an inquiry by an outside force following accusations that he bullied civilian female members of staff at police headquarters in Colwyn Bay.

Complaints against Bill Brereton are being investigated

In a statement to BBC Wales, North Wales Police said that since there was an independent external force disciplinary inquiry into "serious allegations" against Mr Brereton it was therefore "impossible to discuss this matter as doing so would clearly prejudice the legal process".

The statement recognised that Mr Brereton had been ill for a significant time and said the force deplored a leak to the press of confidential information during this period.

The statement said the chief constable immediately instigated a separate criminal inquiry following the leak and because that investigation was still active the force said it was again impossible to comment.

The statement concluded by saying that Mr and Mrs Brereton had clearly been through a difficult period and the force did not want to say anything which might exacerbate matters.

There was also an assurance that the force would continue to provide appropriate support at all times.

Dragon's Eye is on BBC 2W at 2030 GMT and on BBC 1 Wales at 2340 GMT on Thursday.