LET ICI MAKE ECSTASY, SAYS DRUG SQUAD EX-CHIEF

A FORMER head of Scotland Yard's drug squad has angered his ex-colleagues
and politicians by demanding that drugs such as ecstasy should be legalised
and manufactured by reputable firms. Edward Ellison, a former detective
chief superintendent, said the drugs should be taken out of the hands of
criminal suppliers and manufactured by chemical companies such as ICI.

His comments have sparked a furious backlash. Keith Hellawell, the "drug
tsar" appointed by Tony Blair to co- ordinate the government's strategy
against illegal substances, said that, if implemented, Ellison's demands
would harm young people.

"A growing body of research demonstrates the short and long- term physical
and mental harm caused by this drug. This evidence applies just as much to
'pure' as to adulterated tablets. Legalisation would simply put young
people's health at greater risk."

Ellison, 53, who was head of the drug squad from 1982 to 1986 and later
worked in the murder squad, argues that legalisation of ecstasy, as well as
other class-A drugs, would stop hardened criminals from exploiting the
demand.

"It's absolutely clear that it is the criminals who are making the profits,
producing the drug and benefiting from the illegal situation. If we just
decriminalise the drugs, it still leaves supply in their hands.

"I would take the entire drug supply chain out of the hands of the
criminals and put it in a place where there is education, knowledge,
quality control."

His comments, made on a programme entitled Nothing But the Truth, which
will debate the decriminalisation of ecstasy this week, have enraged
doctors. Most believe there is strong evidence that long-term use of
ecstasy leads to depression, liver damage and damage to the nervous system.

An editorial in last August's Police Review said many officers believed in
decriminalisation. But relatives of those who have died from ecstasy
condemned this view.

Margaret Keighley-Bray, whose daughter Debbie died from one tablet of
ecstasy, said legalisation would encourage abuse: "You cannot tell me of
anyone who has died from one cigarette or one drink. There are plenty of
people who have died from one ecstasy tablet."