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Mum, can you lend me twenty quid? – What drugs did to my family
Elizabeth Burton-Phillips the author of best-selling, ‘Mum, can you lend me twenty quid?’ suffered heartbreak in her family when her twin sons became involved in drugs one took his own life by a drug overdose.
Elizabeth is a middle class working mum and wife who spends her day working as a teacher and like any parent has always tried to do the best for her children. She never imagined her twin sons, who were doing well at school, would become involved in drugs.
Nick and Simon started smoking cannabis at the age of 13; this was the start of their downhill addiction to drugs. They both became heroin addicts resulting in them thieving, drug-dealing, and stealing from their parents, all to fund their habit. This was the terrible journey into personal and family heartbreak.
Elizabeth decided to write her story to tell her account of every parent’s nightmare, how her children became heroin addicts and how something positive can come out of this appalling tragedy. Since Nick’s death at the age of 27 in 2004, she has campaigned tirelessly to make parents aware of the pain and suffering caused to families by drugs. Her surviving twin son, Simon, now drug-free has contributed his own thoughts to the book.
Elizabeth now works with many projects on drug-related issues and is a member of the Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals; a trained volunteer for her support group ‘Crack it!’ and also a Spokesperson for Families for Frank, the National Drugs Helpline and Information Service.
Elizabeth has also worked with Thames Valley Police and the Metropolitan Police, working to help get her message in to the public, how drugs can affect people and families and how they can prevent tragedy occurring in their own family.
Thames Valley Police launched Operation Falcon in March 2006 where Elizabeth and husband Tony attended as guest speakers. Operation Falcon has been set up by Thames Valley Police to protect the local community in ‘Tackling Drugs and Drug Related Crime in the Community’.
More than 800 hundred people have been arrested for drug offences with £500,000 worth of drugs seized and 1,400 separate drug seizures taking place since the launch.
Thames Valley Police and partners’ strategy is to fight class A drug dealing in Buckinghamshire with the joint approach by the four Crime Reduction and Disorder Partnerships (CDRPs) in the county, which includes the Bucks Drug and Alcohol Team (DAAT) and Crimestoppers, to disrupt class A drug dealing in the county.
The campaign has a two-fold approach: robust enforcement by police, followed by education and treatment for the serial offenders by the DAAT. The Safer Bucks Partnership Board (part of the Local Area Agreement) contributes to the campaign by helping to fund the Falcon squad and by closing drug houses. When it comes to enforcement, the campaign often relies on tip-offs about drug dealing to police or the Crimestoppers Charity which are swiftly followed by a swoop by the Falcon drugs squad (on average within 48 hours). In this way, hundreds of arrests have been made and thousands of pounds worth of drugs have been taken off the streets. As part of the Falcon strategy those arrested for drug offences are always given the opportunity for drug referral treatment.
Elizabeth Burton-Phillips’ tragic story has helped send out the message that drugs can and will kill. Thames Valley Police introduced Operation Falcon to take drugs off the streets of Buckinghamshire to reduce crime and prevent another family ever having to go through the heartache of losing a child or member of the family.
Chief Supt Paul Tinnion, Buckinghamshire BCU said: “This is truly, a heart-wrenching story that no parent should have to tell. “Operation Falcon has seen huge results; hundreds of people have been arrested and offered support to become drug free and thousands of pounds worth of drugs have been taken off the streets of Buckinghamshire. We ask the community to continue to support us with our operation to ensure that Buckinghamshire is a safer and healthier place to live and that no other parent or family will suffer in the way that Elizabeth and her family have.
“Every parent should read Elizabeth’s book and in-turn ensure that their son or daughter read the book, so her story and message is read and everybody fully understands the tragedy drugs can bring in to a family’s life.”
Anyone with information about drug dealing is asked to contact the police on 0845 8 505 505 or, if you don’t want to talk to police or give your name, call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
You can also give information to the police in person by visiting any police station. To find out the opening times and location of your local station please call 0845 8 505 505 or visit:
www.thamesvalley.police.uk/bcu/buckinghamshire/bcu-info/stations.htm
Sarah Clarke, Communications Officer, Thames Valley Police
Also please follow link below to veiw the METRPOLITAN POLICE DRUG STATEGY 2007-2010
http://www.met.police.uk/drugs/publications/drugsstrategy.pdf
The devastation caused by drugs can only truly be told by those that have suffered at its hands. The story told is painful, true and every parent’s worst nightmare.
Elizabeth has committed a substantial part of her life to sharing her family’s experience with others both through the book and the many presentations that she has delivered. This has significantly contributed to the message we would like to give about the devastating harm that drugs has on users, their families and the communities around them.
Elizabeth’s contribution to tackling drug abuse is held in the highest regard and commended by the Metropolitan Police Service.
Neil Wilson. Detective Superintendent. MPS Drugs Directorate
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