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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Brunstrom drugs views 'dangerous' | Brunstrom drugs views 'dangerous' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An MP has attacked "very dangerous" claims by North Wales Police chief constable Richard Brunstrom that ecstasy is safer than aspirin. | An MP has attacked "very dangerous" claims by North Wales Police chief constable Richard Brunstrom that ecstasy is safer than aspirin. |
| Chris Bryant, whose Rhondda seat in south Wales has been blighted by drug abuse, also accused Mr Brunstrom of an "obsession" with publicity. | Chris Bryant, whose Rhondda seat in south Wales has been blighted by drug abuse, also accused Mr Brunstrom of an "obsession" with publicity. |
| The chief constable also predicted the "inevitable" legalisation of all drugs within the next decade. | The chief constable also predicted the "inevitable" legalisation of all drugs within the next decade. |
| The Labour MP said Mr Brunstrom's opinions were "extraordinary". | The Labour MP said Mr Brunstrom's opinions were "extraordinary". |
| He said: "I think these are very dangerous views. Ecstasy is not a safe drug and the people who sell ecstasy to youngsters in the Rhondda also sell heroin and the whole shooting range of drugs. | He said: "I think these are very dangerous views. Ecstasy is not a safe drug and the people who sell ecstasy to youngsters in the Rhondda also sell heroin and the whole shooting range of drugs. |
| "Drugs have been one of the major challenges that the Rhondda has had to face since the mines [closed]." | |
| Minority view | Minority view |
| He went on: "When you start buying [drugs] from somebody the whole sweetie counter is available to you. And we need to do more to disrupt the supply chain." | He went on: "When you start buying [drugs] from somebody the whole sweetie counter is available to you. And we need to do more to disrupt the supply chain." |
| Chris Bryant says drugs have blighted his Rhondda constituency | Chris Bryant says drugs have blighted his Rhondda constituency |
| Mr Brunstrom, who has campaigned for drugs like heroin to be made legal, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme how he believed a move towards decriminalisation was "10 years away". | Mr Brunstrom, who has campaigned for drugs like heroin to be made legal, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme how he believed a move towards decriminalisation was "10 years away". |
| The chief constable said repealing the Misuse of Drugs Act would destroy a major source of organised crime. | The chief constable said repealing the Misuse of Drugs Act would destroy a major source of organised crime. |
| Mr Brunstrom, who acknowledged that his was a minority view, also said he thought ecstasy was safer than aspirin. | Mr Brunstrom, who acknowledged that his was a minority view, also said he thought ecstasy was safer than aspirin. |
| He said: "If you look at the government's own research into deaths you'll find that ecstasy, by comparison to many other substances - legal and illegal - is comparably a safe substance." | He said: "If you look at the government's own research into deaths you'll find that ecstasy, by comparison to many other substances - legal and illegal - is comparably a safe substance." |
| Drug law reform | Drug law reform |
| But Mr Bryant said he believed "all drugs are dangerous" and the long-term side effects of certain drugs, such as cannabis, were only now coming to light. | But Mr Bryant said he believed "all drugs are dangerous" and the long-term side effects of certain drugs, such as cannabis, were only now coming to light. |
| He said he thought Mr Brunstrom, whose tough stance on speeding drivers is also widely reported, was "obsessed with his own publicity". | He said he thought Mr Brunstrom, whose tough stance on speeding drivers is also widely reported, was "obsessed with his own publicity". |
| A spokesman for DrugScope, the UK's leading independent centre of expertise on drugs, said it believed the legalisation of drugs within the next decade was unlikely. | A spokesman for DrugScope, the UK's leading independent centre of expertise on drugs, said it believed the legalisation of drugs within the next decade was unlikely. |
| "Neither the current government nor the leaders of the other parties show any inclination towards drug law reform in the near future," he said. | "Neither the current government nor the leaders of the other parties show any inclination towards drug law reform in the near future," he said. |
| "And in fact this government has already suggested its desire and its looking closely at reclassifying cannabis from class C to B." | "And in fact this government has already suggested its desire and its looking closely at reclassifying cannabis from class C to B." |
| In October, Mr Brunstrom said drugs laws were out of date and that the police are engaged in a battle which they cannot win. | In October, Mr Brunstrom said drugs laws were out of date and that the police are engaged in a battle which they cannot win. |
| He said he was now campaigning for drugs to be legalised, and for the class A, B and C system to be scrapped. | He said he was now campaigning for drugs to be legalised, and for the class A, B and C system to be scrapped. |