Brent Council has vowed to continue to tackle loan sharks and help protect vulnerable people keep their money safe.

It comes after a campaign from the national Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT), which highlighted the devastating impact loan sharks can have on parents.

According to the organisation, borrowing money illegally can lead people down a spiralling path – research showed that 43 per cent of parent victims went without food or fuel, or missed rent or mortgage payments, to cover their loan shark costs.

And 25 per cent of those who admitted to having suicidal thoughts said it was because of their involvement with illegal money lenders.

Cllr Muhammed Butt, leader of Brent Council, said it was important for everyone to band together to stop loan sharks carrying out their crimes.

He said: “They prey on the most vulnerable members of our community, and, in these hard financial times, a lot of people feel they have no option except to fall into their grasp.

“But the days when these criminals could expect to get away with causing misery are over.

“We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour and we will continue to work with the IMLT and other agencies to crack down on this crime, making it impossible for loan sharks to prosper.”

He added that the council has been working with residents throughout the borough to build financial resilience and expand the number of affordable and sustainable credit choices.

The IMLT, which devotes itself to helping those struggling with loan sharks and seeks to bring those exploiting others to justice, has supported more than 28,000 people.

It has also secured more than 380 prosecutions for illegal money lending and written off almost £74 million worth of illegal debt.

Last year, Brent Council helped investigate a doctor who was running a dodgy loan business from two hospitals in Harrow.

Arjan Damjibhai Savani, of St Paul’s Avenue, Kenton, was ordered to pay back £525,000 in proceeds of crime after issuing a series of illegal loans to his customers.