Two men charged following joint operation

Press release

Date: 19 October 2010

Two men have today (19 October) been charged with illegal money lending offences and providing facilities for gambling without a licence.

The pair aged 72 and 43 were arrested in June of this year in a joint operation involving the North West Trading Standards illegal money lending team and the Gambling Commission (the Commission), supported by Lancashire County Council.

During the operation warrants were executed at two properties in the city and items, including a substantial amount of cash and documentation, were seized. The Commission’s involvement in the investigation centred on suspected illegal gambling relating to betting.

The prosecution is being led by the North West Trading Standards illegal money lending team with advice from the Commission. The two men were charged with nine offences in total under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and the Gambling Act 2005. They have been bailed and will appear before Preston Magistrates’ Court at 9.30am on Tuesday 2nd November.

FURTHER UPDATE:  A trial date has been set for 11 June 2012.

Notes to editors

  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 Great 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.
  3. 3. A previous press release with regard to this case is available at: http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/gh-media/latest_news/2010/joint_operation_in_preston.aspx.
  4. 4. Nationally the Trading Standards illegal money lending teams have secured nearly 80 years worth of prison sentences for illegal money lending and related offences, seized and confiscated £2.5 million and written off debt to the value of £25 million.  For more information see www.direct.gov.uk/stoploansharks or call (0300) 555 2222.

Further information

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