Former drug user and shoplifter turns life around with support of police scheme
“I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for the Open 2 Recovery project. I was just existing for many years. I’ve started living again and the project has given me that lifeline.”
These are the words of former heroin user and prolific shoplifter Nick who is in recovery from addiction and has turned his back on offending with the help of Nottinghamshire Police’s Open 2 Recovery Scheme.
With the support of the force’s scheme Nick got into treatment, successfully completed a rehabilitation programme lasting 16 weeks, and he has been clean of drugs for more than 18 months since engaging with the project.
It’s also helped him to reconnect with his family, partner, and children and get his life back.
“Before I was referred to the Open 2 Recovery project I was sleeping rough in different places, which included sleeping in clinical waste bin stores, and because of my drug use I was a prolific shoplifter as well.
“I never dealt with my problems, I just buried them but when they resurfaced that’s when my drug using would go through the roof.
"It got to the point where I was shoplifting probably £150 worth of goods, in drug money, to feed my habit,” he said.
Our Open 2 Recovery project aims to reduce crime, make communities and businesses safer, and rehabilitate prolific offenders who are entrenched in substance use and are causing harm to communities through chaotic lifestyle choices.
Nick was referred to our life-changing scheme by Sergeant Abby Pinnock after she arrested him in 2023 following a spate of shop thefts.
She said: “Referring Nick to Open 2 Recovery is the most fulfilling bit of work I’ve ever done. Seeing Nick today, compared to when I arrested him in 2023, he’s a different person.
“He was completely broken back then. Today, he’s got his kids back, he’s got his life back, he’s got his partner back. Nick’s mum and dad are beyond happy to have their son back and healthy.”
At the time of arresting Nick, Sgt Pinnock was part of a team targeting repeat retail crime offenders.
“Often, as police officers, I think we get fed up with the cycle of offending and we see the same people in and out all of the time. Open 2 Recovery is the way to stop that, to get people out of the cycle of drug addiction and offending, and to get their lives back.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to know that my one referral has managed to get someone their life back.”
After going through the programme Nick volunteered to work at a treatment centre where he cooks for the residents there.
Nick now uses his expertise as a former shoplifter to advise retailers on the best layout of their stores, where products should be placed on the shelves, and security features to deter people before an offence is committed.
He is also taking on the role of a peer mentor, helping other vulnerable ex-offenders who are considering rehabilitation by sharing his first-hand experiences to encourage them to seek support services.
Nick said: “Open 2 Recovery is an amazing project and it has changed my life for the better. It does save people’s lives and reduces crime at the same time.
“Since being referred and going through the programme, my mindset has completely changed. Before I never used to face problems in my life and I buried my head in the sand.
“Now, I process everything and think about the consequences.
“Open 2 Recovery has given me everything back. I’ve never had such a clear mind and I’m living a life now.”
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden said: "Open 2 Recovery is one of the most powerful examples of what happens when we focus on solving the root causes of crime rather than simply dealing with the consequences.
“Nick’s story shows how the right support can completely transform a life – from someone trapped in addiction and offending to someone who is now helping others avoid the same path.
“This scheme is delivering incredible results for our communities, reducing thefts by the hundreds of thousands of pounds and cutting the flow of money to organised criminals.
"That means safer shops, stronger neighbourhoods, and real hope for those who want to change.”
Statistics show that more than a million pounds of goods were not stolen from shops across Nottinghamshire thanks to our Open 2 Recovery project.
By speaking to those who have gone through the programme, establishing how much they spent on their drug habits prior to engaging with the scheme, it has been measured that during their rehabilitation period a predicted £1,156,598 less property was stolen from businesses.
A predicted £385,499 less has been spent on illicit drugs during this same rehabilitation period – hitting local drug leaders and organised criminals in the pocket.
These figures don’t include the time and costs saved to the police, health services, courts, and prisons.
To date, the Open 2 Recovery scheme has been piloted in the city working with individuals there. However, there are plans to expand the project into the county.
The project uses problem-solving methodology and a trauma-informed approach to reduce reoffending by tackling the underlying root causes of why offenders commit crime.
It involves police working closely with partner agencies to offer targeted wraparound support to individuals with complex needs, including accessing mental health, learning, and other key support services, to help them turn their lives around and maintain their long-term recovery.
The programme is part-funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire, with other funding providers including Probation.
Businesses who also see the benefit of the project and recognise the need for it are also wanting to help and break the cycle of offending.
