Last updated 07:27, Friday, 04 July 2008

CUMBRIA police have teamed up with a new elite squad of investigators from Birmingham to target loan sharks across the county.

Officers from the police Economic Crime Unit are working alongside the National Illegal Money Lending Investigation Service, based in Birmingham, on operations to wipe out illegal debt.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Slattery said: “Loan sharks prey on the most vulnerable members of the community who have got into debt and are conned into believing the answers to their problems lie in illegal borrowing.

“They can very quickly find their debts spiralling out of control, engulfed in a world of violence and heartache.

“Illegal money lending is directly linked to other forms of criminality such as drug trafficking and money laundering, which are among our top priorities.”

He added: “I would urge anyone who has concerns about illegal money lenders to contact Police on 0845 33 00 247 or get in touch with the team of investigators on the freephone hotline number 0300-555-2222 or by emailing stoploansharks@cumbriacc.gov.uk.”

The Birmingham team has already wiped out more than £4million of illegal debt in the UK and has seized guns and drugs.