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Keeley Knowles used to be known as Birmingham’s most prolific shoplifter, stealing thousands of pounds worth of goods to support her heroin addiction for nearly three decades. After being jailed 28 times, she is now 18 months clean and focused on helping other addicts find hope. She credits the West Midlands Police’s Offending to Recovery program for saving her life and now works with the program to provide outreach to drug users and educate others about Buvidal, an opioid treatment drug.
Ms Knowles described her former daily routine as a cycle of targeting shops, stealing, selling the stolen items, scoring drugs, and repeating the cycle. The Offending 2 Recovery program was established in 2018 in response to research showing that addiction to drugs drove up to 50% of acquisitive crime in Birmingham. The program, funded by local authorities, businesses, and the West Midlands police and crime commissioner, offers free, personalized support services focused on treating addiction and breaking the link between crime.
The successful implementation of the Offending to Recovery program in Coventry has led to its expansion into other areas like Coventry, Dudley, Walsall, and Wolverhampton. Detective Chief Inspector Katy Chapman expressed satisfaction with the positive impact of the program, highlighting increased community confidence and the goal of finding alternative solutions to prevent crime and help offenders turn their lives around. Keeley Knowles continues to share her story of transformation to inspire others and encourage them not to give up hope in overcoming addiction.
Ms Knowles’ journey from being labeled as “unfixable” to winning the National Business Crime Solutions Award and reconnecting with her family serves as a beacon of hope for those struggling with addiction. Her message to others is clear: it’s never too late to seek help and make a positive change. If you or someone you know is grappling with similar challenges, support and assistance can be found via the BBC Action Line
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