Police are ‘weakening the grip’ crime gangs have on the ‘UK’s capital of counterfeit goods’ as part of a targeted operation now in its fourth month.
First implemented in November last year, Greater Manchester Police’s Operation Vulcan aims to dismantle organised crime gangs in Cheetham Hill and Strangeways, areas responsible for around 50% of all counterfeit trade in the UK.
Criminals in both areas have had ‘seemingly free rein’ to run counterfeit enterprises - selling everything from fake clothing and perfume to illicit prescription drugs - for years without retribution. But Operation Vulcan aims to be a ‘change of tactic’ for officers in their crackdown on fake goods.
The National Trading Standards estimates that around £8.6 billion is made each year from counterfeit goods across the country, proving to be an extremely lucrative business for criminals.
Detective Chief Inspector Jen Kelly, who is one of the specialist officers working on Operation Vulcan, said the police’s efforts in Cheetham Hill and Strangeways are already seeing a ‘discernible difference’ in both areas - with a tightened grip only continuing going forward.
“It has been an impactful few months of consistent action but it is great to see that so far we have already made a positive mark on the community and the local area,” Det Kelly said.
“At its heart, Operation Vulcan is a partnership effort, and while enforcement is an important part, real, sustainable change would not be possible without the help of the local community and partner agencies.
“The future phases of Operation Vulcan will see the investigation deepen as GMP begin to target those higher up the chain. As we know all too well, counterfeiting is just the tip of the iceberg.”
In just three months of activity in both areas, police shut down around 72 counterfeit shops, made 76 arrests and seized 257 tonnes of counterfeit goods with an estimated value of £40m.
Just last week, officers seized 20 tonnes of fake items - including 'hundreds' of illegal vapes - during raids on 'some of the last remaining shops' on Bury New Road, known as ‘Counterfeit Street’ for its abundance of knockoff stores.
“Operation Vulcan is such an important initiative which is proving to be very successful in stopping and catching those who are blighting these communities,” Kate Green, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for Police, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire, said.
“It’s not just about stopping the production and sale of counterfeit goods, but the wider serious crime and violence all related to this in this area.
“Serious and organised crime gangs have been operating in this area for too long, preying on vulnerable people to line their own pockets and dragging the whole community in Cheetham Hill and Strangways down.
“It will not be tolerated, and I’ve been really impressed to see first-hand how GMP’s Operation Vulcan team, in coordination with partners, are stopping and catching those responsible and driving this criminal activity out.
“The first four months of Operation Vulcan have been a huge success, but this is just the beginning of a long-term sustained programme to transform this area for good.”
The multi-agency action plan also works closely on immigration enforcement and recently exposed how children - who came to the country as asylum seekers - have been groomed to work in shops and county lines drug enterprises.
Police intelligence found that a network of hotels used by the Home Office to house asylum seekers has been targeted by organised criminals, seemingly to ‘prey’ on and exploit vulnerable people.
Kendal Barnett, HM Inspector for North West Immigration Enforcement, which is part of the Home Office, said: “We’re really pleased to have a dedicated immigration officer embedded within Greater Manchester Police, focused solely on Operation Vulcan.
“Immigration enforcement is a really important part of tackling organised crime in Cheetham Hill and Strangeways, and we have seen really positive results since the operation launched.
“This joint partnership working allows us to share intelligence and work closely with police to identify offenders who may not only be breaking immigration law, but could be vulnerable to exploitation by criminal gangs because they don’t have the same protections as those with the right to work in the UK. We are committed to safeguarding people who may be at risk of modern slavery, and we are pleased to be supporting Op Vulcan with this targeted, more joined up approach.”
Councillor Luthfur Rahman, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said of the operation: "The progress made by Operation Vulcan in such a short space of time has been remarkable. As Council we are proud to be working alongside our partners to address issues which have blighted our communities for too long.
"Through the actions of both GMP, the Council and our other partners we are seeing tangible results on the streets as counterfeit shops are shuttered and criminal gangs are brought to justice.
"As this operation has proved, the counterfeit goods industry is not a victimless crime, it causes genuine harm to our communities, and it is something we are committed to stamping out. As a partnership we are energised by the work we are doing, and I am confident that positive results will continue in the months to come."
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