Joint operation in Preston

Press release

Date: 30 June 2010

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of illegal money lending and suspicion of the illegal provision of facilities for gambling during an operation yesterday (29 June) in Preston.

Warrants were executed by the North West Trading Standards illegal money lending team and the Gambling Commission (the Commission), supported by Lancashire Trading Standards and Lancashire Police.

Two properties in the Ashton area of the city were searched and items including a substantial amount of cash and documentation were seized.

The men aged 72 and 43 remain in custody where they will be questioned by officers from the illegal money lending team and the Commission. 

An anti-loan shark operation formed part of the joint operation with a Commission investigation into the illegal provision of facilities for gambling under section 33 of the Gambling Act 2005.

Ends

Notes to editors

The Gambling Commission

  1. 1. The Gambling Commission (the Commission) regulates gambling in the public interest alongside its co-regulators local licensing authorities. It does so by keeping crime out of gambling, by ensuring that gambling is conducted fairly and openly, and by protecting children and vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling. The Commission also provides independent advice to government on gambling in Britain.
  2. 2. The Commission and local licensing authorities are responsible for licensing and regulating all gambling in Great Britain other than the National Lottery and spread betting, which are the responsibility of the National Lottery Commission and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) respectively.

Further information

  1. You can call John Travers on (0121) 230 6700, (07852) 124624 or email him via communications@gamblingcommission.gov.uk.