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Minister hails anti-loan shark team

15/09/2008

Efforts to clamp down on the activities of loan sharks in the north-west have been praised by a government minister.

Birmingham city council's successful Illegal Money Lending Team began working with authorities in Greater Manchester and Merseyside earlier this year.

The central government-funded team and the staff they have trained in the north-west are currently on the trail of 37 lenders in the region, with the total value of the loans under investigation more than £1 million.

A number of arrests have been made and charges have already been brought against some of the individuals involved, with more expected to follow.

Consumer affairs minister Gareth Thomas said: "This team is working around the clock to ensure that the credit crunch doesn't drive people from the north-west into the murky world of illegal money lenders."

In addition to attempting to rid the area of loan sharks, the team is also involved in educating people about the work of debt support agencies and credit unions.