OUTSIDE expertise is set to be brought in to tackle loan sharks as the council does not have the resources or expertise to deal with the problem.

A team from Birmingham City Council will co-ordinate action on illegal lending in Redbridge and other councils nationwide with a £5 million cash injection after a successful pilot scheme in the West Midlands.

Redbridge Trading Standards and many other local authorities currently have no specialist staff to combat loan sharks, which target the vulnerable and charge up to over 100,000 per cent interest.

A council report says about loan shark problems in general: “The evidence so far indicates that illegal money lenders are widespread and prevalent."

It adds that investigations have shown that loan sharks target single mothers, while repayment can involve sexual favours and indiscriminate charges.

Under the proposal, Trading Standards officers will be responsible for enforcement action under the guidance of the Birmingham team.

Redbridge Council declined a Guardian request to speak to a Trading Standards officer about the problem.

A council spokeswoman said: "This is a way of making specialist skills and experience available to Redbridge residents at no extra cost to council tax payers and without adding to the workload of the Trading Standards team, who will still be able to focus on other valuable work."

Click here to follow the Wanstead and Woodford Guardian on Twitter