TWO suspected loan sharks have been arrested on suspicion of money laundering and illegal money lending following a multi-agency operation.

A 65-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were arrested on Tuesday morning after warrants were granted to enter two houses in Hartlepool.

The England Illegal Money Lending Team were joined by Hartlepool Borough Council’s Trading Standards Department and Cleveland Police for the operation which saw documents, electronic devices and cash seized.

Trading Standards officers also seized suspected counterfeit goods at one address.

Tony Quigley, head of service for the National Illegal Money Lending Team, said: “We will continue to work to combat loan sharks.

“They can cause untold misery to the most disadvantaged in our communities.”

Illegal Money Lending Teams have written off £71.9m worth of illegal debt and supported over 26,500 people nationally.

A Hartlepool Borough Council spokesman said: “Loan sharks are a blight on local communities and the Trading Standards Team will continue to work closely with the National Illegal Money Lending Team and the police to ensure they are identified and prosecuted.”

Mr Quigley added: “We would urge anyone with information about loan sharking or victims of loan sharks to contact the team on 0300-5552222.”

  • For more information, or to report a loan shark, visit stoploansharks.co.uk or email reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk