PARENTS OF LEAH BETTS FLEE DRUG CULTURE

The parents of the Ecstasy victim Leah Betts said yesterday that they are to
move to Scotland because their anti-drugs campaign is being ignored.

Paul and Jan Betts said they were tired of trying to make the public realise
the risks from drugs. They are still living at Maldon, Essex, but are hoping
to move to Skye.

The Bettses' campaign was started after Leah's death in November 1995, when
she took Ecstasy at her 18th birthday party. They helped Essex Police to
pioneer drug action teams, but Mr Betts, a former police inspector, said:
"Other than that, Essex has proved the point that a prophet is always
without honour in his home. The vast majority of adults in this country ...
acccept that the drug culture is here."

He said the Scots were more disciplined and interested in their communities.
The courts also had a clear view of drugs and anyone caught with cannabis
for the first time was fined UKP300 and UKP600 for the second time. On the
third occasion, the offender was jailed.

His wife said: "The agencies that people want to turn to are being deprived
of money. People get disheartened and give up. The Government has just spent
thousands and thousands on a report that says heroin is very cheap and a big
problem. We could have told them that two years ago and it wouldn't have
cost them anything."

Checked-by: "Don Beck"