People who try and borrow money from payday loan firms using public computers will be blocked.
Brent Council will ban such companies from all computers used by the public in venues such as libraries and by staff in other council buildings.
They are also investigating whether it is legal to ban adverts by payday loan companies, which charge up to 17,200 per cent representative APR, from council billboards and bus stops.
The council will instead direct people towards local credit unions, which they believe serve people better and prevent them getting into a spiralling mountain of debt.
Brent Council leader councillor Muhammed Butt (Labour) has also written to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, urging him to join forces with the council and encourage other local authorities and public bodies across the capital to do the same.
Mr Butt said: “Payday lending firms exploit people when they are at their lowest ebb. Brent Council will not stand idly by whilst these legal loan sharks grind down those in need into a spiral of depression, debt and dependence.
“It is vital that we try and help people during these tough economic times to make the best choices when in need of credit or a loan.”
