Illegal Money Lending Team Success

9.29.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 23rd Jun 2007

Birmingham Trading Standards' "Loan Shark" team has ensured that over £2 million of illegal lending has been written off.

Councillor Neil Eustace (Stechford & Yardley North Ward), Chair of the Council's Public Protection Committee, has welcomed the success of Birmingham's Illegal Money Lending Team in tackling loan sharks.

"The Illegal Money Lending Team is doing a fantastic job in helping vulnerable people who are exploited by loan sharks," said Councillor Eustace.

"They have also provided expert advice and support to other local authorities in tackling illegal money lending in their areas as well as working closely with key partners to ensure a co-ordinated approach to tackling crime."

Birmingham Trading Standards' "loan shark" team has helped more than 1,300 victims, ensured that over £2 million of illegal debt has been written off and executed more than 50 warrants, the Public Protection Committee was told on 22 June.

The Illegal Money Lending Team was set up in 2004 to tackle loan sharks in the West Midlands region, incorporating 14 local authorities and more than five million people. It was so successful that the Government extended its remit from April this year to cover Liverpool, Leeds, Bradford and Sheffield.

Statistics for the project up to April 2007 show:

• More than 50 warrants executed

• Proceeds of crime proceedings started for over £1 million

• Counterfeit goods worth £100,000 recovered

• 27 defendants reported through legal process

• 107 targets identified

• More than 1,300 victims helped

• Over £2 million of illegal debt written off

• Prison sentences totalling more than 10 years for illegal money lending activities

• 12 guns taken off the streets

• Prison sentences totalling more than 10 years for possession of firearms

• £36,170 cash seized