LOANSHARKING and harassment cases have fallen by 9.3 per cent in the first six months, thanks to tougher measures to crack down on such actitivities.

A total of 4,755 cases were reported from January to June, compared to 5,240 cases over the same period last year.

Police also expect the number of harassment cases to drop for a second year running from the peak in 2006.

There have also been more arrests for loansharking activities. In the first half of this year, police arrested 210 persons, compared to 137 in the same period a year ago.

In May, police busted a large syndicate, arrested 17 people and seized more than $200,000, the largest seizure of cash since 2005.

These figures were disclosed by Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng in his written reply to questions from Marine Parade GRC MP Lim Biow Chuan in Parliament on Tuesday.

While some progress has been made to crack down on loansharks, Mr Wong said the problem of illegal money lending is not easy to solve.

'Loansharks evolve their modus operandi to elude detection and apprehension. Organised syndicates are difficult to break down, as the kingpins rarely expose themselves,' he said.

'Targeting runners and those who harass others disrupts but does not destroy the organisation, since this group of people is easily replaced'.

'Breaking down the entire organisation is a painstaking and laborious process. Whatever the economic situation, there will always be desperate borrowers who borrow from unlicencsed money lenders'.

'Police will continue to monitor the situation closely, and if necessary, introduce further measures to deal with the problem'.

Since 2005, police have taken a multi-pronged strategy in dealing with the loansharking situation.

Penalties under the Moneylenders Act have been enhanced.

Assets of convicted loansharks can now be confiscated under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act.

The passports of loansharks can be cancelled and they also face a 10-year travel ban to prevent them from running syndicates from outside Singapore.

Loansharks can also be detained under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act.

Police have also enlisted the help of external parties such as SingPost to assist with the detection of loanshark activities.

Since April this year, persons who apply to update their home address in their NRICs are required to furnish proof that they are staying at that address to minimise the likelihood of borrowers giving false addresses to loansharks.

'With all these measures in place, the situation has shown some improvement,' said Mr Wong, who added that police also tap community resources.