Food bank users in Northern Ireland are being targeted by paramilitary loan sharks, a BBC NI Spotlight investigation has learned.
Victims of illegal money lenders told the programme how they faced a cycle of spiralling debt and intimidation.
One man who spoke to the programme anonymously said loan sharks cold-called him and gave him a £500 loan after seeing him at a food bank.
A month later he was told he owed them £1,300.
A representative of the UK's largest food bank charity said similar accounts had been relayed to him of people who have been using their services because of hardship being approached by loan sharks.
Det Supt Emma Neill, from the organised crime branch, encouraged victims to approach the police.
