ECSTASY 'SAFER THAN ASPIRIN'

KILLER drug ecstasy is safer than ASPIRIN, top cop Richard Brunstrom
claimed yesterday.

He also repeated his call for Class A substances like heroin and
cocaine to be LEGALISED.

The North Wales chief const-able claimed such a move was "inevitable"
- - and could happen in 10 years.

About 400 people in the UK have died from ecstasy since
1994.

But Mr Brunstrom, known for targeting speeding drivers, called it a
"remarkably safe substance, far safer than aspirin".

The maverick cop told the BBC: "There is a lot of scaremongering,
rumourmongering around ecstasy.

"It isn't borne out by the evidence.

"Ecstasy is not a safe substance and I'm not suggesting that it
is.

"But it is much less dangerous than, for instance, tobacco and
alcohol."

The National Drugs Prevention Alliance last night urged Mr Brunstrom
to quit over his remarks.

And Des Delaney, 56, whose daughter Siobhan, 18, died after one pill
in Kirkby, Merseyside, called the cop's view "absolutely
ridiculous".

He added: "He should go and stand by Siobhan's grave every week and
see how he feels."

He went on: "The evidence is very clear that prohibition doesn't work,
it can't work.

"The enforcement-led strategy is making things worse."

But Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said last night: "The real
answer is to get a grip of the anti-drugs policy and not be seduced by
simplistic and convenient solutions."