Funny card tickles police chief

The card comes with the caption: "Don't panic, I've got a plan"

A chief constable is said to have seen the funny side of a satirical Christmas card depicting problems faced by his force in the last 12 months.

Richard Brunstrom was so pleased with the cartoon-style card that he is having it framed and hung in North Wales Police's headquarters.

It depicts the chief trying to "break in" to the HQ at Colwyn Bay, Conwy, and the moment the building caught fire.

The card has been produced by the North Wales Police Federation.

During the last 12 months the force, and its controversial chief constable, has attracted more than its fair share of headlines.

In December 2007, the force claimed Mr Brunstrom had been "testing security" when he tried to break in to police HQ.

However, a Freedom of Information request later revealed he climbed in through an open window because his key fob was not working.

'Just peachy'

The Christmas card also shows a horse box with a camera pointing from it - a reference to the revelation in March 2008 that police were using covert methods to catch speeding motorists.

Among other incidents, the card also captures the moment the force's HQ caught on fire in April, causing "substantial damage" to the roof.

In another scene, a police officer is seen standing in front of a North Wales Police slogan saying: "Everything is just peachy."

It is the fourth year running that the North Wales Police Federation has commissioned humorous images, which are drawn by local artist Richard Hackett, a mural designer by trade, from Colwyn Bay.

A federation spokesman said: "We're making arrangements for all of our cartoons from the last four years to be framed and put in a prominent place in police HQ.

"He [Richard Brunstrom] thinks it's really funny, and rather than lose these images over the years, let's preserve them."