Stop Loan Sharks

The Diocese works with  the England Illegal Money Lending Team to support  the Stop Loan Sharks Campaign.  In June 2018 Bishop James along with many of our Mayors, Partners, local councillors, agencies and charities gathered to sign the Zero Tolerance To Loan Sharks Charter. 

The Illegal Money Lending Team:

The Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) is a National Trading Standards team, hosted by Birmingham City Council and working across England to identify, investigate and prosecute illegal money lenders, commonly known as loan sharks. The team are currently funded from central Government via a levy placed on the consumer credit industry. The team consists of Investigators, Intelligence staff and LIAISE Officers who engage in awareness raising and intelligence generating activities, and provide holistic and intensive victim and witness support.

What’s a Loan Shark?

A loan shark is someone who lends money without the correct authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Loan sharks charge extremely high levels of interest, which are often almost impossible to calculate. Loans from illegal money lenders are often unenforceable so these criminals use threats, fear, intimidation and sometimes violence to get the money back.

Stop Loan Sharks from Mandy Carr on Vimeo.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of a loan shark, contact the IMLT:

• Call the 24/7 confidential hotline 0300 555 2222
• Text a report to 078600 22116
• Visit the website at www.stoploansharks.co.uk
• E-mail reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk
• Private message on www.facebook.com/stoploansharksproject

For further information, help/support to plan a Stop Loan Sharks event and  for free handouts and other materials  please contact Caroline Clarke caroline.clarke@rochester.anglican.org   or @communitycaro.