Campaign launched against loan sharks

LOAN sharks' victims are being urged to report illegal money lenders in an awareness campaign.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Dec 2016, 06:00 BST
Updated 15th Dec 2016, 14:00 BST

The National Stop Loan Sharks Week, which is running until Sunday, is being run by the England Illegal Money Lending Team.

It comes after Kevin White, 56, of Bramdean Drive, Leigh Park, and Adrian Dowse, 46, of Botley Drive, Leigh Park, were jailed at Portsmouth Crown Court for running a £750,000 ‘ghost’ business.

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The IMLT said it has run more than 368 successful prosecutions involving £71m worth of illegal debt and helped 26,000 people.

Head of the IMLT Tony Quigley said: ‘No matter how much you are struggling financially, loan sharks are definitely not the answer.

‘They are criminals who are motivated by their own greed. We remind residents that they are not offering a community service and should be avoided at all costs.

‘Loan sharks could easily ruin your Christmas and you could be subjected to years of harassment, paying back your loan several times over.’