Pubdate: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 Source: The Sunday Times Author: Rajeev Syal Website: http://www.the-times.co.uk/ Contact: 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."