Combating loansharks

[Ripley]

Home > Breaking News > Singapore > Story
Nov 10, 2009
Combating loansharks <!--10 min-->
<!-- headline one : start --> <!-- headline one : end --> <!-- show image if available --> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr></tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="330">

</td> <td width="10">

</td> <td valign="bottom">

Photograph of a moneylender's graffiti on the wall of a HDB flat. The new watch group will serve as 'eyes and ears' against loanshark activities. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
</td></tr> </tbody></table>
WHAT are some of the things the newly launched Unlicensed Money Lenders Watch Group will look out for when they do their rounds in Serangoon? The new watch group is made up of 19 volunteers from the Serangoon North Merchants' Association and was launched on Sunday to serve as 'eyes and ears' against loanshark activities in the area. The shop-owners have also been working closely with the Neighbourhood Police Centre for the past three months.

 

[scroobal]

Loansharks vandalising and threathening debtors first made an impact on the country in a big way circa 1985. The Police began enforcement action that year. Its 24 years, the Kallang River was cleaned, gold medals were given to Civil servants for it and the Kallang River has gone back to becoming a polluted waterway. And the Police are still struggling to handle loan sharks.

Maybe it time to hand over the task to a new Commissioner. Someone who has a higher profile than a pangolin.