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Loan sharks
tackled as campaign is set to launch in the Wirral
WITH an estimated 310,000
households across the UK turning to loan sharks, a campaign is being
launched in the Wirral to raise awareness of the dangers of
borrowing from these criminals. The England Illegal Money
Lending Team are working in partnership with Wirral Borough Council,
Bidston and St James' Children's Centre, North Birkenhead
Development Trust and other local partners to launch a local
campaign to reach families and warn them why they should avoid loan
sharks.
In the week commencing Monday, 20
August 2012, representatives from the Team and other agencies will
be out and about in the community raising awareness, and showing
anyone caught in a loan shark's trap that there is help available.
Loan sharks may appear friendly at first, but will quickly trap
their borrowers into spiralling debt. By adding exorbitant extra
amounts and interest charges the borrowers are often forced to pay
back far more than they borrowed or can afford. The lenders often
resort to extreme methods including violence, threats and
intimidation to enforce repayment. As the lenders are operating
illegally, the borrowers are under no legal obligation to keep
repaying. Anyone who has been the victim of a loan shark is
encouraged to report the crime in confidence.
Drop in for valuable advice and information on loan sharks during
the following events and also catch a special appearance from the
Team's mascot Sid the shark:-
► Tuesday, 21 August to:- 9.30am to
12.30pm. Get the benefits of a health check with Wirral Partnership
Homes at:- 1-3 St James Road
► Wednesday, 22 August 2012:- 1pm to 3pm
will see Fun and games for kids, being held, that includes a
colouring competition and story time with Sid, along with health
checks from Birkenhead Health Action Team and advice on safe and
legal alternatives to loan sharks from Wirral Credit Union at
Birkenhead Park.
► Thursday, 23 August 2012:- 1pm to 4pm is
the Fun Day, including health checks and advice from the credit
union at Gautby Road Play & Community Centre
► Friday, 24 August 2012:- 12pm to 2pm
Olympic themed fun day with benefit health checks at St James
Centre.
During the week frontline staff at local agencies will also attend
training sessions with the Team, enabling them to spot if one of
their clients has fallen prey to a loan shark, and be able to
support and signpost them. The Team will also meet with families at
St James' Centre as part of North Birkenhead Development Trust's
safari park trip, and at Miriam Place Day nursery, offering
information and advice. Posters and banners with the:- 0300 555 2222
hotline number for reporting loan sharks will also be displayed
throughout the community.
The campaign follows on from the conviction of a Birkenhead man for
illegal money lending and money laundering, following an
investigation by the England Illegal Money Lending Team. The loan
shark is due to be sentenced later this month.
Councillor Brian Kenny, Wirral Council Cabinet Member for the
Environment said:- "Loan sharks often resort to intimidation
and violence when these predatory loan deals go sour and the victims
need to know there is support available. The England Illegal Money
Lending Team are experts in investigating and preventing these
individuals from ruining lives, and they work closely with trading
standards to gather evidence to prosecute offenders."
Tony Quigley Head of the England Illegal Money Lending Team said:-
"Loan sharks have a negative effect on the lives of everyone
who is involved with them. We are continuing to tackle this crime,
and would urge anyone who has been affected by a loan shark to call
us in confidence on:- 0300 555 2222 as we can put a stop to their
behaviour."
Nationally the Stop Loan Shark Project has secured over 212
prosecutions for illegal money lending and related activity, leading
to 132 years worth of custodial sentences. They have written off
almost £40 million worth of illegal debt and helped over 18,000
victims.
To report a loan shark:-
Call the 24/7 confidential hotline:- 0300 555 2222
Text:- 'loan shark + your message' to:- 60003
Email:-
reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk
Private message on:-
facebook.com/stoploansharksproject
Log-on to:-
direct.gov.uk/stoploansharks |
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Flower power at
Croxteth Hall
GREEN-fingered Liverpool
people have the chance to show off their finest blooms and
mouth-watering fruit and veg over the Bank Holiday week-end.
Croxteth Hall's annual Flower Show, billed as Liverpool's favourite
Flower Show, that takes place on Sunday, 26 August 2012, from 1pm to 5pm and
Monday, 27 August 2012 from 10.30am to 5pm.
Classes in the show, which is organised by Croxteth Hall Garden
Society, include flowers, pot plants, fruit and vegetables, floral
art, baking and preserves, poetry, photography, art and crafts, and
children's sections.
Entry forms can be collected at the Hall's Gift Shop and must be
received by Thursday, 23 August 2012. This year' show is
supported by the Decade of Health and Wellbeing, encouraging healthy
lifestyles and the Five Ways to
Wellbringing.
Councillor Peter Mitchell, Mayoral Lead on Parks and Open Spaces,
said;- "This is a traditional-style flower show and what
better place to hold such an event than at Croxteth Hall. For
keen gardeners, cooks and people with an interest in arts and crafts
this will be a great way to spend the Bank Holiday week-end." Civic honour for
Education Leader
FORMER Principal of
Liverpool Community College, Wally Brown CBE has been granted the
Freedom of the City of Liverpool. On Thursday, 16
August 2012, Mr Brown was given the City's highest civic honour in
recognition of his commitment to providing outstanding education and
opportunities for young people in the City.
Liverpool's Lord Mayor, Councillor Sharon Sullivan, said:- "I
am delighted to be awarding the Freedom of the City of Liverpool to
Wally Brown. His drive and commitment in ensuring that quality
education is available to everyone, regardless of class or race, is
inspirational. We should also remember the key part he played acting
as mediator in the Toxteth riots and the constant support and
encouragement he has given to young people growing up in the area.
He has played a vital role in helping to improve the lives of those
in the black community through education and is not only a fantastic
ambassador for the City, but also a well deserving recipient of the
Freedom of the City of Liverpool."
The ex-Toxteth youth leader and engineering apprentice hit the
headlines as the first black person to chair the Merseyside
Community Relations Council. This appointment along with his
involvement in the local community also led to the setting up of the
Council Advisory Committee on Race.
During his time as Principal at the Community College, and with the
support of committed governors and staff, he transformed it into one
of the most successful and outstanding further education colleges in
the UK. In 2002 he was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE)
for his services to education.
Wally Brown CBE said:- "On behalf of myself and the black
community of Liverpool 8, I am delighted to be receiving the Freedom
of the City of Liverpool. This is a great honour not just for me,
but for all the staff and governors at the college who supported me
during my time there, the success of the college is a testament to
their hard work and dedication. I feel privileged to have led a
college where so many Liverpool people have studied and gained
qualifications."
The college now has one of the best estates in the sector with 6
modern buildings; it provides excellent education and training to
over 16,000 students each year and has gone from being judged
satisfactory to outstanding by OFSTED inspectors in its last 2
inspections. MAN
CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH CORONATION ROAD, CROSBY AND HEYWORTH
STREET, EVERTON ASSAULTS
MERSEYSIDE Police have
confirmed that a 22 year old man from Walton has been charged with 2
counts of attempted murder and 2 counts of robbery. Martin McCaig,
of Harlech Street, has been charged with attempted murder in
connection with the assault of a 16 year old boy on Coronation Road,
Crosby on 15 July 2012 and the attempted murder of a 63 year old man
on Heyworth Street, Everton on 12 July 2012. He has also been
charged with the robbery of 2 women, 1 of them aged 40, in the park
in-between Netherfield Road and Great Homer Street and a 68 year old
on Walton Breck Road, Anfield on 12 July 2012. He has appeared at
South Sefton Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 9 August 2012 and will
next appear at Liverpool Crown Court on 31 August 2012, for a
preliminary hearing.
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