Stockport Council has joined forces with a pioneering team to tackle illegal money lending.

All 10 councils in Greater Manchester are working with specially trained officers from Birmingham City Council's Illegal Money Lending Team which already operates in the West Midlands, Merseyside, Sheffield and West Yorkshire. It has now secured extra funding to expand into Greater Manchester.

Investigation officers working with the team have the power of arrest and will gather evidence against suspects. Financial inclusion officers work closely with victims introducing them to groups such as credit unions and debt support agencies.

Set-up in 2004, the Birmingham team has successfully brought many 'loan sharks' to justice on illegal money lending charges and related offences such as money laundering, counterfeiting and assault.

The Birmingham team has helped to wipe out more than £2m of illegal debt 'owed' by some of the poorest members of society.

It also seized guns and drugs and recovered more than £100,000 worth of counterfeit items.

Councillor Stuart Bodsworth, Executive Member for the Environment, said: "Illegal loan sharks are parasites who prey on the most financially vulnerable members of our society.

“By working in partnership we will add to our efforts to tackle illegal money lending - at no extra cost to the council - and protect Stockport residents.

“This complements the work of the Stockport-wide Credit Union and contributes to the Council's positive efforts to tackle inequalities in the borough."