Team pledges to defeat loan sharks

ORGANISATIONS across Warrington are teaming up to help protect vulnerable residents, with a new zero tolerance pledge towards loan sharks.
Golden Gates Housing Trust (GGHT) has brought together a range of local groups to pledge a zero-tolerance attitude towards illegal money lending by signing the Warrington Stop Loan Sharks Charter.
The charter aims to bring people and organisations together to make a statement that loan sharks will not be tolerated in the local community and send a clear message that they are united in a zero tolerance approach to this crime.
There is often a reluctance to speak about loan sharks, but the charter aims to start a conversation about the issue and in doing so reach those who are at risk – often some of the most hard to reach people.
The charter was launched at an event by GGHT and attended by the Mayor, Cllr Geoff Settle, which provided an opportunity for organisations including  Warrington Borough Council, LiveWire, Cheshire Police, Warrington Money Box, Barclays Bank and the Citizens Advice Bureau to find out more about the issue, and spot illegal money lending in communities. It enables them to support anyone they meet in their day to day work who may have been a victim and signpost them to the England Illegal Money Lending Team.
Additionally, 50 GGHT front line staff received training delivered by Joanne Hartley from the Illegal Money Lending Team.
A number of other events to help raise awareness of illegal money lending will be conducted by GGHT and its partners later this year.
GGHT senior financial inclusion officer, Carmel Morris said: “We are committed to promoting financial inclusion across the town and working with a range of different partners and organisations to achieve this.”
Anyone who wishes to report a loan shark can simply e-mail [email protected], text ‘loan (space) ‘shark’ (space) and your message to 60003, visit www.direct.gov.uk/stoploansharks or call the Illegal Money Lending Team on 0300 555 2222.
Picture: Warrington Wolves mascot Wolfie fights off Sharkie, the loan shark mascot, as local organisations and partners come together to sign the Warrington Stop Loan Sharks Charter.