Bite back and help stop loan sharks

The England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) is working with a host of partners, including the City Council, to stage Bite Back Week from Monday 10 March to Friday 14 March.

It includes visits to venues across the city to raise awareness about the dangers of loan sharks and ways that people can borrow safely. There's also advice and support to anyone who thinks they may have borrowed from a loan shark already.

• Monday 10 March, the team will be at the Gentoo offices in City Hall, Plater Way, from 9.30am to noon and then at the Bread and Butter Thing at Chance, Rickerby Street, East End, from 1pm
• Tuesday 11 March, they will be at the Beacon of Light School in Stadium Park
• Wednesday 12 March,  from 10am to 1pm, the team, along with mascot Sid the Shark, will be at The Galleries Shopping Centre, Washington
• Thursday 13 March, they will be visiting Sunderland College - Bede Campus from 9.30am to noon and City Campus from 1 to 3pm
• Friday 14 March, they will be at the Bread and Butter Thing at Southwick Neighbourhood Youth Project, in Southwick Road, from 11am.

The City Council's Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Tourism, Councillor Beth Jones said: "There is no place in our city for loan sharks who take advantage of people who are struggling with their household finances. Residents concerned about their bills and outgoings can always speak to commissioned advice providers (Get help and advice - Sunderland City Council) such as Citizens Advice Sunderland, ShARP and Sunderland West Advice Project or take up opportunities like these visits from the national team.

"There are many and far more better ways of borrowing safely and managing money than going to a loan shark. Working together and with local information we can all help put a stop to the illegal lenders who prey on people. Borrowing money from a loan shark might seem easy, convenient or even tempting, but it can make financial problems much, much worse."

The Illegal Money Lending Team was created in 2004 to investigate and prosecute illegal money lenders and support borrowers.

Dave Benbow, head of the IMLT which is also known as Stop Loan Sharks, said: "Illegal lenders are often well known in communities and this Bite Back Week aims to reach anyone who might be vulnerable, or who might have been targeted already."

Anyone who has been affected by illegal money lending should call its 24/7 confidential helpline on 0300 555 2222 or access support online at www.stoploansharks.co.uk. Live Chat is available on the website from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.