Net closes on scourge of loan sharks in region

Officers from the England Illegal Money Lending Team are to target the region with a series of initiatives after the threat posed by loan sharks started to spread as more people got into difficulties.

Some campaigns will focus on deprived areas, recognised as being most at risk from the problem, but other strands of action are aimed at more affluent communities where households are struggling for credit.

Specialist training and briefing sessions are also planned with the region’s police forces, and training courses are planned for members of the public which will allow them to advise neighbours.

Even pub landlords are being recruited in the battle, with briefings for licensees planned in Leeds so they know where to pass information; beermats containing advice will be distributed.

Tony Quigley, the head of the England Illegal Money Lending Team, said the most important part of his work was getting victims to overcome their fear of loan sharks and report them to the authorities.

He added that a new project which will be launched today in South Yorkshire aims to publicise the national telephone number which victims can contact for support and use to report lenders in confidence.

Mr Quigley’s officers have joined forces with charity, Refurnish, which collects unwanted furniture from across Doncaster and Rotherham to be revamped and then re-sold to people who are on limited budgets.

Refurnish has 10 vans, and each has been branded with the money lending team’s hotline number 0300 555 2222, while its shops in Wath upon Dearne and Doncaster are also displaying the information.

Mr Quigley said there are an estimated 310,000 households across the country using loan sharks and other unregulated credit providers with some unlicensed lenders known to charge interest in excess of 130,000 per cent APR.

He added: “Loan sharks are a scourge on our communities, causing a great deal of misery and harm.

“Through initiatives like this we are able to send a clear message that loan sharks will not be tolerated, and that there is help available.

“We would urge anyone who knows of any illegal money lending taking place to contact us.”

Other work taking place includes training and briefing for West Yorkshire Police and a project with West Yorkshire Joint Services to tackle illegal money lending through its Community Education programme.

Frontline housing staff in Hull are the East Riding are also undergoing training to allow them to recognise the key signs which show that an illegal money lender is operating, and how to help tenants should they fall victim.

The team’s community Loan Shark Advocates training will take place in Chapeltown, Leeds and Scarborough.

These sessions are open to the public, and cover what a loan shark is, why they are dangerous, and how to help spread the message. Attendees are given a certificate to show they are advocates to help people fight back.

Speaking about the South Yorkshire initiative, local Labour MP John Healey said: “This campaign to sends out a clear message that loan sharks will not be tolerated in Rotherham.

“Working together with the England Illegal Money Lending Team we are cracking down on this despicable crime, which has a hugely detrimental impact on victims.

“Help is at hand if you have borrowed from a loan shark, so please report them.”