News In Focus
9 March 2006
Anti-loan shark scheme extended
The Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit has secured funding to operate its Glasgow pilot project for a further 12 months.
Targeting loan sharks operating on housing estates, the DTI-sponsored scheme, one of two in the UK - the other is in Birmingham - completes its initial two year period this coming August. It has now been given support to enable it to continue for another year.
BBC enquiries have revealed that the Unit has investigated 70 cases. Eight have led to reports to the procurator fiscal and five cases are now pending.
A spokesperson for the Glasgow Unit said they felt it was going well considering the lack of information when they started. Victims were often scared to come forward.