Man arrested for illegal money lending

A man from Keighley has been arrested on suspicion of illegal money lending.

The 43-year-old was taken into custody after an early-morning raid on Wednesday by police and the government's Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT).

Police also seized a vehicle, electronic devices, paperwork, suspected drugs and drug-related paraphernalia, according to the IMLT.

Dave Benbow, head of the IMLT, said: "Illegal lending is a scourge on our communities and we will not tolerate those who prey on the vulnerable in this way."

He added: "Illegal lenders often appear to be a friend offering a favour at first, but they can quickly start demanding extra payments and can become threatening or violent."

The IMLT is a government-funded organisation that works with West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service to investigate and prosecute illegal money lenders.

According to the Centre for Social Justice, there are up to 1.08 million people in debt to "loan sharks" in England.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.