UNDER-FIRE chief constable Richard Brunstrom last night challenged arch-critic and TV motor-mouth Jeremy Clarkson to meet him face-to-face in North Wales. Top Gear wants to question Mr Brunstrom about his controversial anti-speeding views. Agreeing to the one-to-one interview, Mr Brunstrom said his schedule was too busy to travel to the warehouse in Guildford, Surrey, where the show is recorded. He invited the crew to North Wales to film the interview but was told the presenter was unprepared to travel to the region. But the chief constable was not losing any sleep over missing the chance to debate speeding policy with Clarkson. He said: "Mr Clarkson is most welcome to come to North Wales to see how we are promoting road safety. "But since Top Gear has sunk from a car enthusiast's programme to a lad's mag staged in a warehouse, I don't think appearing on the programme would be terribly productive." BBC spokeswoman Penny Crook last night downplayed the snub, insisting there was no time that could accommodate both parties. She said: "North Wales Police chief constable Richard Brunstrom was approached to do an interview for the new series of Top Gear. "Filming is organised well in advance, but it was impossible to arrange a time to do the interview." She insisted the Top Gear production team was not averse to travelling to Wales, and would be filming in Cardiff today. She also said the interview was a genuine opportunity for Mr Brunstrom to air his views. Clarkson and his Top Gear copresenters have repeatedly crossed swords with Mr Brunstrom. Last year, the chief constable was nominated for a spoof Top Gear "enemy of the state" accolade.. Clarkson described him as "the man who described speeding motorists as criminals and then regretted it shortly afterwards when a national newspaper allegedly caught his daughter speeding. He also said there is no more excuse for drifting over the speed limit than for driving a knife into someone." Mr Brunstrom has labelled Clarkson and his colleagues "petrol-heads" and accused them of having too much influence on government policy on speed cameras. A POLICE watchdog was yesterday blasted by Richard Brunstrom for the way it ranked his force's performance. Mr Brunstrom said the inspectorate of constabulary's review, which he dubbed a two-week snapshot by strangers last September, was unjust and confusing. The North Wales force was assessed as "fair" in nine out of 16 areas, including in race and diversity matters. The chief constable said 27 forces were classed as "good." He declared: "The entire police service doesn't deserve better than fair." The police chief also defended himself and his deputy Clive Wolfendale after being criticised by the Commission for Racial Equality for a "patronising" Eminem-style rap at the launch of the force's Black Police Association. | 
