Richard Brunstrom has again apologised to Mark Gibney's family

But Richard Brunstrom claimed the media was also to blame and said showing the pictures was not a "resigning matter".

The comments are in a documentary to be broadcast on BBC One Wales on Tuesday in which Mr Brunstrom also discusses politics and the Welsh language.

The police force's authority decided not to dismiss Mr Brunstrom last week.

He was widely criticised for showing pictures of 40-year-old Mark Gibney, who died in a motorcycle crash in Denbighshire in 2003.

Although the meeting in April was supposed to be in private for members of the media and road safety campaigners, Mr Brunstrom did not get permission from Mr Gibney's family to show the images.

They have since repeatedly called for him to be sacked or to resign. Three MPs with north Wales constituencies have also said he should go.

I wish it had not happened. I allowed others to exploit a mistake of mine but what they did is their responsibility, not mine Richard Brunstrom

A report by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) found Mr Brunstrom had caused distress to Mr Gibney's family, many of whom did not know the nature of his death.

Mr Brunstrom appeared before the North Wales Police Authority last week to explain his actions but the authority stood by him and said it would work with him to ensure future "safeguards" were in place.

Subsequently, Mr Brunstrom said he would show pictures of a decapitated biker again - if safeguards including making sure the family did not suffer - were in place.

But speaking publicly about the row for the first time in the BBC Wales documentary The Chief, Mr Brunstrom again apologised to Mr Gibney's family.

"I feel it was a stupid mistake. It was an honest mistake and it was an honest comment," he says.

"I feel I was stupid. But I would rather be honest than be arrogant.

"Everyone makes mistakes - I wish I had not done it."

But Mr Brunstrom also said the media had to take a share of the blame for the impact the scandal had on Mr Gibney's family.

Mark Gibney died in a motorbike crash in 2003

"I can only take responsibility for that which I did and there is no doubt that I caused or enabled what followed," he said.

"But I did not make anybody identify the family or the victim.

"I wish it had not happened. I allowed others to exploit a mistake of mine but what they did is their responsibility, not mine."

Mr Brunstrom also insisted that his actions were not "a resigning matter" and that he had come to this conclusion "some months ago".

The documentary, made by BBC Wales' former political editor David Williams, followed Mr Brunstrom over the course of several months.

In it, Mr Brunstrom talks about his passion for the Welsh language, why he believes in coalition politics and his feelings when the Sun newspaper dubbed him "the mad mullah of the traffic Taliban".

The Chief will be shown on BBC One Wales at 2235 GMT on Tuesday, and again on BBC2W at 2145 GMT on Wednesday.