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NATIONAL NEWSLETTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER

New funding available for 2015-2016The England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) is, once again, able to makeavailable money taken from loan sharks to be used to benefit local communities.

The good news is that for the year 2015-2016 organisations will be able to apply forup to £5,000 to directly target an area affected by, or believed to be at risk of illegalmoney lending to promote the illegal money lending team and the message that loansharks should be avoided at all costs.

Your project idea will need to target illegal money lending and needs to be deliveredby the 31st March 2016.

If you are interested in applying and would like to know more about the fundingcriteria, please contact [email protected] . Then, just send us ashort summary of your great idea and the budget you will require. Closing date forapplications is September 30th 2015.

In previous years we’ve had some brilliant entries into our Stop Loan SharksChampions Award competition. From neighbourhood partnerships and volunteergroups to local authorities, the ideas have been so amazing that we just had to doit once again!

Let us know what you or your organisation did in the last year to help us rid ourcommunities of loan sharks. Categories are split in to five sectors: housing providers, localauthorities/education/schools; police/fire service; third sector organisations including credit unions,community groups and charities and other agencies and individuals.

Regional winners will get: a framed certificate for display, the Stop Loan Sharks Regional WinnerAward logo for use on documentation and national media coverage. Regional winners will then have achance of becoming the 2015 National Champion. The overall winner will also receive £1,000 to spendon raising awareness of loan sharks.

For an application form please email [email protected]. Closing date for entries is30th September.

Stop Loan Shark Awards are back!

ILLEGAL MONEY LENDING TEAM

CONFIDENTIAL HOTLINE 0300 555 2222

5th Tilehurst Guides from Reading used£500 P.O.C.A money to create their ownStop Loan Sharks challenge badge. Toearn the badge, the Guides had to learnabout money related issues such asbudgeting, smart food shopping, cookingand of course how not to get involved withillegal money lenders.

The challenge booklet is now available toall Guide groups.Orders have sincebeen received fromareas as far flung asAustralia!

PROCEEDS OF CRIME FUNDINGOver the past year, the England Illegal Money Lending Team has helped raiseawareness of the dangers of loan sharks in communities nationwide, encouragedvictims to speak out and helped people make a step change away from borrowingmoney and towards saving for the future. All of this has been funded through theProceeds Of Crime Act (P.O.C.A) money taken from convicted loan sharks.

Through a series of innovative events, initiatives and campaigns in all parts of thecountry, thousands of people were reached, and more than one hundred communitygroups, agencies and charities received funding as they worked with the EnglandIllegal Money Lending Team to spread the message about avoiding loan sharks.

Some great ideas that have been funded in previous years:

72,000 people were reached with the“Stop Loan Sharks” message in theGateshead area when GatesheadCouncil, Trading Standards and otherpartner agencies delivered a Month OfAction.

IMLT information was included in staff payslips and vinyl signs were displayed onCouncil and Police vehicles.

Activities included financial Inclusion workwith primary school students using IMLTfree educational resource packs - free todownload from our website.

Survey exercises that were carried outdoor to door, and there were advice stallswithin the Metro Centre.



Shropshire Youth Bus:

Funding was used to produce a set of information stickers thatcould then be placed on promotional products like roll-ondeodorants that were given to the young people during sportssessions.

Salford City Council together with Greater Manchester Police, Salford Credit Unionand partners celebrated the launch of “Salford Against Loan Sharks” SALS. Thecampaign was a result of joint work from partners in the area, steered by SalfordFinancial Inclusion Group.

Supported by P.O.C.A. its keypriority was to raise awareness ofloan sharks and the wider financialimpact they can have. The projectengaged with multiple partnersfrom diverse areas of Salford,providing numerous workshopsand training sessions for both staffand community members. Theproject delivered the anti-loanshark message to every home inthe city.

Working in partnership with KingstonTrading Standards and the Studentunion at the local university, studentswere asked to design a poster to warnagainst the dangers of loan sharks.

26,000 Students were invited to enterthe competition.

The winning design was displayedacross the borough on notice boardswith a total estimated footfall of 1.7million people.



Leeds loan shark gets two and a half years prison

A carer who operated a loan shark business targeting“desperate and exceptionally vulnerable” people hasbeen jailed.

Georgina Balboa Serrato, 42, was sentenced to two and ahalf years after a court heard how more than a quarter of amillion pounds passed through her bank accounts during aneight year period. One victim who took out a £2,000 loan tosend to her son in the Philippines who was suffering fromcerebral palsy, ended up paying back over £11,000 and wasstill making payments at the time Serrato was arrested in2013.

Mother of two Serrato pleaded guilty to operating without a consumer credit licence and two counts ofmoney laundering at Leeds Crown Court. Serrato’s husband Nestor, 42, also pleaded guilty to moneylaundering, allowing use of his bank accounts. He was given a ten-month sentence, suspended for twoyears, and ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work.

Serrato, of Oak Tree Drive, Gipton, would target vulnerable members of the Filipino community. Anothervictim ended up paying over £21,000 after taking out loans worth £3,500. Judge Neil Clark, said: “It wasa mean and unpleasant thing to do. You were taking money from people who were desperate andexceptionally vulnerable.”

A 46 year old man who operated as a loan shark in Merseyside, was sentenced to sixteenmonths imprisonment following a hearing at Liverpool Crown Court in March.

John Cartwright, of Old Chester Road, Birkenhead was investigated by the England IMLT working inpartnership with Wirral Trading Standards and Merseyside Police.

On behalf of the prosecution Senior Solicitor, Simon Mortimer told the court how Cartwright had beenrunning a money lending business in the Rock Ferry area. In September 2014 a warrant was executedby officers from the IMLT at Cartwright’s brother’s address where he was living at the time.

From the address there was a clear view of the local post office where Cartwright could see many of hiscustomers collecting their benefits. Money lending records were seized. Officers were able to identify atleast 45 individuals with outstanding loans. In the months before the warrant was executed Cartwrightwas issuing around fifty new loans a week. The interest he charged varied between 50 and 100% of theamount lent.

Upon sentencing Judge Goldstone QC said “You have made a £100,000 profit by taking advantage ofdesperate people who were under pressure”. As well as the criminal prosecution a Proceeds of CrimeAct investigation was also carried out. As a result of this it was ascertained that Cartwright had received£200,000 criminal benefit from his illegal money lending.

Cartwright was informed he needed to re-pay his available assets within 28 days or face an additionalnine months imprisonment.

Merseyside loan shark receives 16 month prison sentence



Two brothers who operated as loan sharks have each been sentenced to six months imprisonmentsuspended for two years following a hearing at Leeds Crown Court.

Thomas Joseph O’ Donoghue (aged 56) of Harehills Lane, Leeds pleaded guilty to offences of illegalmoney lending and money laundering. He was charged along with his brother Dennis O’ Donoghue(aged 62) of Fairfield Terrace, Leeds who also pleaded guilty. The investigation and prosecution wasled by the England Illegal Money Lending Team working in partnership with West Yorkshire TradingStandards.

Thomas O’Donoghue charged exorbitant amounts of interest, trapping borrowers into spiraling debt.One victim borrowed £100 and was told to pay back £200 at £20 per week. Missed payments would seethe balance increase by £100. The debt then grew to the point where the victim was paying between£100 and £150 each week.

Victims were left in desperate situations, borrowing money from family and claiming food vouchers.Thomas O’Donoghue, who was unemployed and in receipt of benefits, still took the vouchers in lieu ofpayment. Dennis also claimed benefits.

Thomas O’Donoghue would threaten his victims to ensure they kept paying often using ex-boxers tocollect payments, he would raise his fists and say “I haven’t used these in a long time but I will. He alsothreatened to damage victim's properties.

When investigators from the England Illegal Money Lending Team executed a warrant at ThomasO’Donoghue’s address, they found documentation which proved he had been involved in illegal moneylending since October 2010.

It appeared that the business which the O’Donoghue’s were involved with gave out 138 loans to 57borrowers, loaning out more than £20,000.

Upon sentencing His Honour Judge Kearl said that the O’Donoghues had offered money to the mostvulnerable people who were least able to pay. The amounts owed escalated as interest and penaltieswere high. A financial investigation under proceeds of crime legislation is ongoing.

Leeds loan sharks sentenced to six months

Redbridge:

Following the conviction of Elisa Alcomendas and German Alcomendas last year, two confiscationorders have been made. Since the hearing German Alcomedas has been deported back to thePhilippines.

Gloucester:

Bryan Smith from Charlton Kings, Cheltenham was subject to a confiscation order April 2015 requiringSmith to pay back £238,257.

Wiltshire:

James Palfrey & Ronald De La Cruz from Trowbridge were subject to a confiscation order of £37,500 inApril 2015. Of this £11,600 was to be repaid to their victims.

CONFISCATION ORDERS



In January 2015 a 44 year old man was sentenced toeighteen months imprisonment (suspended for twoyears) following a hearing at Teesside Crown Court. Hewas also given a three month curfew.

Two female associates aged 45 and 48 were eachsentenced to nine months imprisonment suspended fortwo years and ordered to undertake eighty hours ofunpaid work.

All three were involved in an illegal money lending businessknown as Door2door Money. Desmond Cross (opposite) setup the business with Belinda Hughes and Jaqueline Atkinson.Belinda Hughes was asked by Cross to help him set up thebusiness as she had previously been a collector for alegitimate company. She was also asked to bring some of herprevious clients across with her. Jaqueline Atkinson kept thebooks and managed the finances.

On behalf of the prosecution Simon Mortimer told the court how Mr Cross was aware of the need for alicence, having made previous enquiries. Following the execution of warrants in January 2014 by theIMLT, loan documentation and other evidence was seized. This included £1,800 which was found inAtkinson’s handbag, which she said related to the loan business.

This evidence was examined by a financial investigator who found loans to 83 individuals betweenAugust 2013 and January 2014 totalling over thirty thousand pounds. Upon sentencing the JudgeRecorder Patrick Palmer said to the three “You must regard yourself as lucky. You particularly DesmondCross, came very close to serving that sentence.”

A Proceeds Of Crime case is currently ongoing.

ENFORCEMENT ACTION IN DURHAM

Suspected loan shark arrested following operation in Essex:

A 38 year old woman has ben arrested following an operation in Essex. Working in partnership withEssex County Council a warrant was executed at a residential address in Romford. Documents wereseized and the case is ongoing.

Suspected loan shark arrested following operation in Brent.

A 53 year old woman has been arrested on suspicion of illegal money lending. The England IllegalMoney Lending Team working in partnership with Brent and Harrow Trading Standards and theMetropolitan Police executed warrants at an address seizing paperwork and a quantity of cash.

COURT AND ENFORCEMENT UPDATES



COURT AND ENFORCEMENT UPDATES

In Essex a 32 year old man was arrested and has been charged with offences under the FinancialServices and Markets Act. The court date is imminent.

A 55 year old man has been arrested and charged in Sunderland. He is due to attend court in October.During the execution of the warrant £125,000 was seized.

Following the arrest of four men in the London Borough of Enfield, charges have been laid which includeillegal money lending, firearm and identity offences.

A woman aged 64 was arrested following an operation in Scarborough. The England Illegal MoneyLending Team working in partnership with North Yorkshire County Council and North Yorkshire Policeexecuted a warrant in Burniston seizing documents and a quantity of cash. The woman is currently on bailafter being questioned by officers from the team.

Follow us on Twitter/Facebook - https://twitter.com/loansharknews andfacebook.com/stoploansharksproject for updates

Lancashire: 46 year old Dean Hughes from Barkerhouse Road, Nelson, was charged with illegal moneylending following an operation in March. The England Illegal Money Lending Team, working inpartnership with Lancashire County Council Trading Standards and Lancashire Constabulary, seizeddocuments and a mobile phone from his property. He was remanded in custody and is awaiting trial.

Helen Soberano, aged 60 from Swindon in Wiltshire pleaded guilty to illegal money lending offences incourt in March. The case has been adjourned for sentencing.

A 47 year old West Yorkshire man has had £27,000 seized and is due to appear in court later this year.

In the London borough of Waltham Forest, a 50 year old man was arrested for illegal money lendingoffences and is currently on bail awaiting trial in June 2015.

A 31 year old Margate man was arrested on suspicion of illegal money lending, following an operation inKent in March.

The England IMLT, working in partnership with Kent County Council Trading Standards and Kent Police,executed warrants in Margate and Ramsgate. Seized items included documents, a computer and mobilephones as well as a quantity of a substance believed to be drugs. The suspect is currently on bail afterbeing questioned by officers from the Team.

Two men arrested in the Wembley area have been charged with illegal money lending and Proceeds OfCrime Act offences:



Anti loan shark campaigner CarolHighton MBE from Runcorn

It is with deep sadness that the IMLT has to report that our much loved friend and champion CarolHighton passed away on 21st June 2015 aged 52. After enduring chemotherapy for cancer only for thecondition to return, Carol decided to stop treatment so that her final months would be less painful on herfamily. Instead she chose to access palliative care at Halton Haven Hospice, a facility that impressedher such that she made it her final battle to publicise the hospice’s work following a two year illness.

She worked in partnership with the England Illegal Money Lending Team following the death of her sonwho died under tragic circumstances as a result of spiralling debts to a violent loan shark. FollowingBrian’s death, she set up the Brian Shields Trust which helped give victims of loan sharks the confidenceto come forward and report to the IMLT.

In 2013 Carol was given an MBE as recognition of her voluntary work helping victims of illegal lendersaccess the help they deserve. At the time Carol said “As the queen put it on me, all I was thinking was‘this is for you son’.” She called the silver medal “my Brian’s emblem” but stated “I’d give it up in aninstant to have Brian back.”

Jacqui Kennedy OBE, Director of Regulatory Services at Birmingham City Council who oversees theEngland Illegal Money Lending Team, paid tribute to the fearless and unyielding mother from HaltonBrook.

She said: “Carol has been an inspiration to our project and to our team. A fantastic friend to us all, Carolhas made such a massive difference in her local area tackling loan sharks.

Her enthusiasm and understanding of this really challenging world of criminality has inspired us to securesupport from other ambassadors and volunteers. I know she’s helped people in a desperate situationand those have certainly ended with some significant prosecutions. You couldn’t be sad around Carol.She never let you really. I don’t think I’ve come across anyone who’s achieved quite as much”.



The Fountain Project at Wirral MIND designed pieces of art to reflect the dangers of loan sharks. Someof the pictures showed loan sharks as predators, others showed the vulnerable side of victims that getinvolved with loan sharks. Wirral MIND said “the project inspired the artists to convey a very importantmessage and raise awareness through their own creativity”.

Wirral MIND added “thank you for including our service users and helping them support other vulnerablegroups who may be subject to illegal money lending. This art project has had a positive impact on thehealth and wellbeing of the Fountain Art Group artists as they felt a real sense of achievement and were'uplifted' seeing their work displayed in a public place.”

Debt and Depression Month Of Action

In Winyates, the IMLT worked with RedditchCouncil to raise awareness during Debt AndDepression Month.

Agencies highlighted the dangers of loan sharksto residents. Training sessions were held forFrontline staff at housing associations, benefitsagencies, community safety teams, and moneyadvice agencies.

Other activities included displaying posters andleaflets in shops, a presentation to a local mentalhealth group, and a tour of Sid the shark at theWinyates Shopping centre.

Follow us on Twitter /Facebook -https://twitter.com/loansharknews andfacebook.com/stoploansharksproject for updates



Young People Month of Action

Middlesborough:

Over 100 Students from Trinity College attended a full day of IMLT workshops with Glenda the Lender.The students, aged from 16 - 18, tweeted the fact they had attended the workshop to raise awarenessamongst their friends.

“Know Your Money” - a youth project based in Middlesborough led by Erimus Housing, used moneyawarded by the IMLT through the Proceeds Of Crime Act, to host the event.



During March, events were held across the country in order to spread the anti loanshark message to those under 25 and their families. Young people were selected asspending starts early, financial skills are often lacking and feedback from schools,parents and students demonstrates that financial awareness and avoiding dangersshould be taught.


West Yorkshire:West Yorkshire Police Explorers course heard hard hitting facts about illegal lenders who cause untoldmisery and hardship from West Yorkshire Trading Standard’s SAFER team and the England IllegalMoney Lending Team. The session was part of the latest Young Explorers programme, which enablesyoung people aged 16-18 to investigate different aspects of policing and at the same time support theircommunities through volunteering. During role-play exercises the students had to identify counterfeitgoods and act as investigators hunting down loan sharks featuring real life situations. Course leaderswere delighted by the enthusiasm and skills demonstrated by the young people.

London:Awareness raising sessions were held at StanmoreCollege in London Borough of Harrow.

Young entrepreneurs, age 16 - 18, at the collegewere seeking business start-up finance and advice.As part of their course students learn about scams,rip-offs and how to spot the signs of illegal moneylending. (See below)

Birmingham Sutton Coldfield: The Our PlaceMentoring Scheme is a service that supportschildren, young people and their families in primaryschools throughout the Sutton Coldfield areaoffering support for a whole range of issuesincluding anger, anxiety, loss, self-esteem andfamily breakdown. Many of these issues are relatedto family financial difficulties and so, after beingsuccessful in obtaining POCA funding for thedevelopment of a Loan Shark project with the IMLTthey now deliver ‘My Money; Loan SharkAwareness’ workshops that actively engagechildren from year 3 to year 6. To date 180 childrenhave learnt about the dangers of loan sharks. (Seeabove)



Plymouth:The England IMLT visited sites in Plymouth, working in partnership with Plymouth City Council. TheCouncil recently launched its ‘Say no to Fishy Finance’ campaign in partnership with the National MarineAquarium and the Illegal Money Lending Team.




Other awareness raising activities…

Birmingham:Students at the Metropolitan College in Birmingham (pictured above) were taught about the dangers ofloan sharks. Pay Ahead, Stay Ahead is a project that aims to improve the money management skills ofsocial housing tenants in North Sollihull. They spoke to the students about how to manage theirfinances. The team ran several sessions which were well attended and as part of the quiz show gamespot prizes were given to students.

Taunton, Somerset:

As part of a month of action, raisingawareness of illegal lenders acrossSomerset, volunteers atPriorswood Community Centreattended Stop Loan Sharks trainingand learnt that anyone can be avictim of an illegal lender; todemonstrate this they took a phototo be included in theirneighbourhood newsletter.

London:

During March a group of local tenants organisations in partnership with Southwark Citizens AdviceBureau and the Illegal Money Lending Team, held an anti-loan shark event. The event was attended bySouthwark residents, as well as other organisations that work in the area.

Speakers included the Illegal Money Lending Team who discussed the true cost of borrowing from aloan shark, Sally Causer from Southwark Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) who spoke about the variousagencies in the borough that could help those affected, and Joan Driscoll from London Mutual CreditUnion talked about credit unions as a real alternative to illegal money lending.

A group of staff and volunteers from Southwark CAB performed a play, “Just a Few Quid”, about thereality of borrowing from an illegal money lender. Feedback from the event was overwhelminglypositive.



Hampshire:

Tenants of First Wessex HousingAssociation attended a trainingsession in order to spread the antiloan shark message to family andfriends.

Derbyshire:

The England IMLTsupported an “Eatand Treats” Eventheld in the town ofBolsover, a jointfunded event withBolsover DistrictCouncil Healthy Neighbourhoods Team. The eventwas aimed at thirty specific vulnerable families whohad various support needs.

Many agencies were on hand to give advice andguidance on debt, budgeting, health, credit union,fitness and cooking skills.

The local Women’s Institute Group created a loanshark cookie mix to give to each family for makingtheir own cookies at home. Each cookie jar camewith the IMLT help-line telephone number attached.

Success in Darwen:Smiles all round as two successful winners of our“Your Choice”awards received cheques fromGlenda the Lender at Darwen Town Hall. Both arenew community groups, providing support in andaround the area.The groups have been supported by Blackburn andDarwen Borough Council SustainableNeighbourhoods Team who have taken an activerole in helping the community stand up to loansharks.

The Ex-military Support Services, will use thefunding to raise awareness of loan sharks in theveteran community and give advice to thosefamilies who are transitioning from military tocivilian life.

John Clark, chairperson said “We are all exservice personnel and know that lending goes onin the forces and also in our communities as anormal way of life. This funding will allow us to givespecific support to ex-military personnel, theirfamilies and by extension the community.



WELSH TEAM UPDATEThe Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit has used funds confiscated from loan sharks to develop teachingmaterials to educate children and young people about the dangers of loan sharks, and also to help themmanage their money wisely, so that they can avoid financial problems in the future. The packs have beendeveloped and piloted with a number of schools and have been awarded the pfeg quality mark. They areavailable in both English and Welsh language versions.

One pack is suitable for 5-11 year olds, and the other is aimed at 11-19 year olds. They encourageyoung people to think about their needs and wants, to consider budgeting, and to develop anunderstanding of credit. Activities can be incorporated into Maths, numeracy, literacy, drama, or PSE.The issue of loan sharks is addressed in a sensitive and age-appropriate way; an engaging cartoonaimed at younger children tells the story of what happens when Mr Penguin borrows money from Mr Finn.There is also interest in the materials from prisons, special needs teachers, youth groups, and adultnumeracy instructors.

WIMLU held a series of launch events in schools across Wales during March, which included a visit toFitzalan High School in Cardiff by Lesley Griffiths, the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty.Further events have taken place in Swansea, Conwy, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, andPowys.

The head of Maths at Milford Haven School said: “It’s becoming evident that children need to be morefinancially aware, in order to avoid money-related pitfalls later in life. After this presentation on loansharks, we will develop the theme further within the school.” One of his twelve year old pupils added: “Itwas fun to learn about it so that in the future we know not to make the same mistakes”Unit manager Steve Grey said:”WIMLU is very keen to use proceeds of crime money to the best effect –and what better way than to enhance the financial capability skills of children and young people?”

The materials can be downloaded from www.cardiff.gov.uk/WIMLU

Further information and printed copies can be obtained by contacting WIMLU on 02920871090 [email protected]

If you have information about a loan shark operating in Wales, please phone WIMLU on the 24hour Hotline: 0300 123 3311