LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

One of the England's most senior police officers broke into his own headquarters to test its security for himself.

Richard Brunstrom, head of North Wales Police, scaled scaffolding outside the building in Colwyn Bay to gain entry.

"The North Wales Police headquarters is currently being refurbished and as a result there is scaffolding attached to the building," a police spokeswoman said. "We can confirm the chief constable tested the security himself."

The spokeswoman declined to give further details.

Brunstrom has previously called for all drugs, including heroin, to be legalised and allowed colleagues to shoot him with a taser "stun" gun to demonstrate its effect.

Last week he described a government decision not to backdate a pay rise to police officers as "shabby and dishonourable".

North Wales Police Authority, the body that oversees Brunstrom's force, said the chief constable's latest stunt had their backing.

"We are pleased that security at police headquarters has been revised and improved as a result of the chief constable's actions," a spokesman said.

"But we are mindful of health and safety considerations and would not advise anybody else to do the same thing."