{"id":5377,"date":"2026-06-11T23:06:21","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T23:06:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/heroin-addict-stole-35million-in-decades-long-crime-spree-as-tough-love-punishment-expanded\/"},"modified":"2026-06-11T23:06:21","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T23:06:21","slug":"heroin-addict-stole-35million-in-decades-long-crime-spree-as-tough-love-punishment-expanded","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/heroin-addict-stole-35million-in-decades-long-crime-spree-as-tough-love-punishment-expanded\/","title":{"rendered":"Heroin addict stole \u00a335million in decades-long crime spree as &#8216;tough love&#8217; punishment expanded"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_1a5e55\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">EXCLUSIVE: Deputy PM David Lammy &#8211; who is also the Justice Secretary &#8211; is unveiling plans to double the number of Intensive Supervision Courts to cut reoffending and improve family relationships<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37283058\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"David Lammy has announced a major expansion of \u201ctough love\u201d problem-solving courts to steer women away from a life of crime\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37283058.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_SWNS_MIRROR_LAMMY_-36.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37283058.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_SWNS_MIRROR_LAMMY_-36.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37283058.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_SWNS_MIRROR_LAMMY_-36.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37283058.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_SWNS_MIRROR_LAMMY_-36.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"David Lammy has announced a major expansion of \u201ctough love\u201d problem-solving courts to steer women away from a life of crime\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">David Lammy has announced a major expansion of \u201ctough love\u201d problem-solving courts to steer women away from a life of crime<cite aria-label=\"Image: Emma Trimble \/ SWNS\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Emma Trimble \/ SWNS)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">David Lammy has announced a major expansion of \u201ctough love\u201d problem-solving courts to steer women away from a life of <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/crime\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">crime<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The deputy PM &#8211; who is also the Justice Secretary &#8211; is unveiling plans to double the number of Intensive Supervision Courts (ISC) to cut reoffending and improve family relationships.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">ISCs force offenders to attend weekly sessions and regularly appear before the same judge who will track their behaviour. Failure to attend meetings can be punished with prison. There are currently five ISCs across the country but a \u00a39million funding boost will take this figure to 11 by 2029, with a total of six to be dedicated to women.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37283055\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37283055\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Keeley Knowles, 43, a former heroin addict who stole \u00a335million worth of designer products and other items over decades of prolific shoplifting, is one example of how the targeted ISC system can work\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37283055.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_SWNS_MIRROR_LAMMY_-15.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37283055.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_SWNS_MIRROR_LAMMY_-15.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37283055.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_SWNS_MIRROR_LAMMY_-15.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37283055.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_SWNS_MIRROR_LAMMY_-15.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Keeley Knowles, 43, a former heroin addict who stole \u00a335million worth of designer products and other items over decades of prolific shoplifting, is one example of how the targeted ISC system can work\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Keeley Knowles, 43, a former heroin addict who stole \u00a335million worth of designer products and other items over decades of prolific shoplifting, is one example of how the targeted ISC system can work<cite aria-label=\"Image: Emma Trimble \/ SWNS\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Emma Trimble \/ SWNS)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In an interview with The <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Mirror<\/a>, Mr Lammy said the ISCs are in no way easier than prison sentences but are a form of \u201cpunishment that works\u201d. He said: \u201cThere&#8217;s nothing easy about being gripped by a judge, having to meet the obligations to attend alcohol or drug addiction supervision, knowing that if you slip up, you are going to go to prison and you could serve 28 days, for example, in prison\u2026 This is not easy. It&#8217;s actually quite tough. Some might call it tough love.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Studies show how more than two thirds of women in custody report being victims of domestic abuse, while roughly half have drug addictions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mr Lammy said there will always be a place for some women to go to jail &#8211; such as those who commit sexual or violent crime &#8211; but emphasised that many female offenders are victims of domestic abuse or have mental health, drug or alcohol problems.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Asked if people should have more sympathy for the reasons people get tied up in crime, Mr Lammy said: \u201cI think that what the public want to see, understandably, if you&#8217;ve committed a crime, is punishment, but they also want to see rehabilitation, and so I tend to talk about punishment that works, and the emphasis on works is important.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cIt really isn&#8217;t good for taxpayers&#8217; money or good for victims of crime if people experience the criminal justice system and then go on to reoffend and reoffending rates are running at about 67% often in this area, so we need to get that figure down. The intensive supervision courts are a key plank of reducing reoffending that is cost-effective.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">ISCs are inspired by Texas\u2019s justice system, where the approach has contributed to a 29% drop in crime.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37283061\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37283061\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Emma Page, who was given an ISC order and was supported to complete it at Anawim women\u2019s centre in Birmingham, said the targeted court has helped her turn her life around\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37283061.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_SWNS_MIRROR_LAMMY_-6.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37283061.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/1_SWNS_MIRROR_LAMMY_-6.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37283061.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_SWNS_MIRROR_LAMMY_-6.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37283061.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_SWNS_MIRROR_LAMMY_-6.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Emma Page, who was given an ISC order and was supported to complete it at Anawim women\u2019s centre in Birmingham, said the targeted court has helped her turn her life around\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Emma Page, who was given an ISC order and was supported to complete it at Anawim women\u2019s centre in Birmingham, said the targeted court has helped her turn her life around<cite aria-label=\"Image: Emma Trimble \/ SWNS\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Emma Trimble \/ SWNS)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Keeley Knowles, 43, a former heroin addict who stole \u00a335million worth of designer products and other items over decades of prolific shoplifting, is one example of how the targeted ISC system can work. Keeley, who said she was seen as \u201cbeyond help\u201d, went to jail 28 times in the UK but it did not break her cycle of crime and drug-taking.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cGoing to prison puts you on pause and then you come back out the exact same,\u201d she said. \u201cEvery single time I got out of jail, I would hit their local shopping centre on the way home, already planning what I was getting, what I was going to sell.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But after a two-year ISC order in Birmingham, which came to an end in March, her life has completely transformed and now she campaigns on justice issues. \u201cThis is different because it wasn&#8217;t just turning up at probation once a week, and someone ticking a box to say that you turned up, but not paying any interest in what you&#8217;re actually doing\u2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;The ISC looks at all the things that you need help with and it will make sure that you get them and you don&#8217;t get forgotten at the bottom of a pile of names. It&#8217;s all personalised and it&#8217;s not got one formula for one per for like everybody, everybody gets their own treatment right.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI used to be some junkie that you&#8217;d see in the street, no teeth, no nothing, that nobody paid attention to,\u201d she added. \u201cNow I go everywhere. I go to Westminster to talk; to the Old Bailey. I do events for massive security companies, police crime commissioners. I couldn&#8217;t have imagined that my life would be what it is now, not back then.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Vulnerable offenders are often supported through their ISC orders by women\u2019s centres, which can host probation, substance misuse and counselling sessions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Emma Page, who was given an ISC order and was supported to complete it at Anawim women\u2019s centre in Birmingham, said the targeted court has helped her turn her life around. \u201cI don&#8217;t even know where I&#8217;d be. I probably would be in prison or dead,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s made me realise I am worth a bit, I&#8217;m not judged, I&#8217;m not the only one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Emma, 46, who assaulted a police officer when drunk not long after her dad\u2019s death, was told to take a three-month alcohol programme and complete 12 weeks of counselling. She now wants to volunteer at the centre to help other people like her.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Calling for continued funding to support ISCs, she said: \u201cI think the country needs it. I think the whole of Britain needs it because it will save the room and the money from the prisons and reoffending. Here, you have support, you&#8217;re outside (of jail) and you can still be free and go forward and progress in your life.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cIf you were in prison, it&#8217;d be, I don&#8217;t know, aggression and whatever, you ain&#8217;t gonna care, because as soon as you come out, you\u2019re going to go back to where you were, and a lot of men and women do that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/politics\/david-lammy-women-courts-justice-37282499\" target=\"_blank\">Source link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EXCLUSIVE: Deputy PM David Lammy &#8211; who is also the Justice Secretary &#8211; is unveiling<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5378,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5377","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/0_SWNS_MIRROR_LAMMY_-36.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5377","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5377"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5377\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5378"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5377"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5377"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}