A 70 year old man and a woman aged 64 have been arrested on suspicion of illegal money lending, following an operation in Scarborough this morning (January 19).

The England Illegal Money Lending Team working in partnership with North Yorkshire County Council and North Yorkshire Police executed a warrant in Burniston seizing documents and a quantity of cash.

The woman is currently on bail after being questioned by officers from the team. The man was questioned and is facing no further action.

Tony Quigley, head of Service for the England Illegal Money Lending Team, said: “the Team will continue to work to combat loan sharks. They can cause untold misery to the most disadvantaged in our communities. We would urge anyone with information about loan sharking or victims of loan sharks to contact the team.”

Nationally the Illegal Money Lending Teams have secured more than 321 prosecutions for illegal money lending and related activity, leading to nearly 205 years’ worth of custodial sentences. They have written off £62m worth of illegal debt and helped more than 25,000 victims.