A 43-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of illegal money lending following an operation in County Durham early today.
The England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) worked in partnership with officers from Durham Constabulary and Northumbria Police to execute two warrants this morning.
The suspect was arrested at an address in the Murton area and a commercial premises in the Millfield area of Sunderland was also searched.
Officers seized electronic devices and documentation and the suspect was taken into custody to be questioned by IMLT investigators. He was later released under investigation while inquiries continue.
The IMLT works in partnership with Durham County Council Trading Standards and Sunderland City Council Trading Standards to investigate and prosecute illegal money lenders.
Dave Benbow, head of the IMLT, said: “Illegal money lending will not be tolerated in England, and we will continue to work with our partners to take action against those who blight our communities in this way.
“If you are feeling threatened or afraid after borrowing from someone, you may have been targeted by an illegal lender. You can contact our team in complete confidence for expert help and advice.”
There are up to 1.08 million people in debt to loan sharks in England, according to figures from the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ).
The warning signs of an illegal lender include:
- Giving you no paperwork or agreement on a loan
- Keeping items until the debt is paid such as a bank card or passport
- Adding more interest or charges so the debt never goes down
- Using intimidation or violence if you don’t pay
Many illegal money lenders are well known within their communities and are often introduced to borrowers through friends or family members. They are unregulated and give loans with no paperwork, charging extortionate interest rates. They often resort to threats, intimidation and even violence if repayments are not made.
Unauthorised lenders do not complete affordability checks on borrowers – often meaning they are lending to people who cannot pay them back. These borrowers do not have the protection of consumer law such as cancellation periods and the ability to apply for help if they can’t pay. This can impact their other finances – leaving them unable to pay rent or other priority bills.
Anyone who has been affected by illegal money lending should call the Stop Loan Sharks 24/7 Helpline on 0300 555 2222 or access support online at www.stoploansharks.co.uk. Live Chat is available on the website from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
