Recession Boosts Violent Loan Sharks

Illegal loan sharks have carried out physical attacks on people who owe them money in Northern Ireland.

A report by the Organised Crime Task Force found that criminals are taking advantage of Northern Ireland's high levels of personal debt to target people on benefits, with drug problems, or running small businesses.

Failure to repay loans at extortionate rates can prompt threats, physical assaults or seizure of goods.

In the year 2001-2012, the report found, 33 potential victims of human trafficking were rescued, 30 fuel laundering plants dismantled, £4.5m of criminal assets seized and £13m worth of illegal drugs recovered.

Justice Minister David Ford introduced the report, putting particular emphasis on the "callous" practice of human trafficking, and asked people to contact police or Crimestoppers if they saw anything suspicious, in order to help beat organised crime gangs.

According to the report by the multi-disciplinary task force, people have found it more difficult to access credit thanks to the recession and are therefore turning to informal loan shark arrangements that put them in danger.

The report read: "Organised crime gangs are often fluid, with members changing depending on the skills needed for a particular enterprise. They will also adapt to the environment in which they are operating by changing the types of crime they are involved in, developing new expertise and exploiting perceived weaknesses and loopholes."

Minister Ford praised the "complex and resource intensive" investigations taking place behind the scenes.

(NE)