In a bid to warn local communities about the dangers of loan sharks, an experiment is underway this week to put up “shark proof” security screens on vacant council properties across Birmingham, Britain’s second largest city, this week.
The specialist property management group, VPS, are supporting the England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT), who are working in partnership with Birmingham City Council’s housing department, Birmingham’s Financial Inclusion Partnership and Fortem to install “shark proof” security screens across fifty vacant council properties in the city.The security screens will serve as a reminder to local communities about the dangers of getting involved with a loan shark and the help and support available to victims through the IMLT.
An estimated 310,000 households nationally, affecting over a million of the poorest people in the UK, are borrowing from illegal money lenders, many of whom charge exorbitant rates of interest to trap people into a spiral of debt. The anti-loan shark security screens have been funded using proceeds of crime money, cash confiscated from convicted loan sharks, following successful prosecutions.
“We have special decals to stick on steel security screens for cosmetic purposes, which are increasingly popular as they look far better than plain steels, but these posters carry an important message. Anything that will help reduce the illegal activities that blight our poorest communities is worth trying. If it works in Birmingham, it could be initiated in other cities.” Says Carlos Rosa, Sales and Marketing Director, VPS.
The security screens contain helpful contact information for the Illegal Money Lending Team – including the team’s 24 hour hotline number (0300 555 2222) and website address: www.stoploansharks.uk
