Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is set to make a radical move to smash a “national magnet for criminality” by bulldozing parts of the infamous ‘counterfeit street’.
After decades of repeat raids to seize tonnes of counterfeit clothing and goods worth tens of millions of pounds, the police force has confirmed that buildings on Bury New Road in the Strangeways area of Manchester are to be closed, compulsory purchased, and then flattened – for good.
It’s all part of a new operation known as ‘Operation Vulcan’.
Operation Vulcan is setting out to shut down shops selling fake clothing, perfume, tobacco, and toys that are believed to be a front for serious crime, and comes after GMP has already stablished that 33 organised crime gangs from across the UK have links to the Cheetham Hill area.
The area is also known to have links to illegal immigration, modern-day slavery, human trafficking and women being forced to work as sex workers.
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Police say the gangs also have links to mass money laundering, firearms, drugs, and more.
Greater Manchester Police is set to bulldoze Manchester’s infamous ‘counterfeit street’ / Credit: GMP
But now, the area’s reputation is set for a facelift as GMP is to work with Manchester City Council and other organisations to deliver “a permanent solution”.
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“This comes directly from our Chief Constable. He has described Cheetham Hill as a place that is criminally hostile and he is not prepared to have that in his force area,” Detective Superintendent Neil Blackwood, who is heading Operation Vulcan, told the Manchester Evening News.
“Counterfeiting has been around for a very long time but the criminality has shifted into prescription drugs [and] people being exploited sexually and for their labour, and illegal immigration – a microcosm of criminality.”
When asked if Operation Vulcan would eventually see the demolition of the buildings used for counterfeit sales and other crimes in the area, DS Blackwood confirmed this in the works.
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“We are probably in the position of clear, hold, build. Clear it, and hold, so no one comes back, and then its Manchester City Council’s gift to give in terms of rebuilding. Most of those buildings will end up at the end of a bulldozer. Most unrecoverable, because they have been chopped and changed around.
“There has been a lack of consistency – we are there one day not the next, and that is where our chief has recognised that is a problem, so we will be there everyday.
“I have more patience than them.”
It’s all part of a new operation known as ‘Operation Vulcan’ / Credit: GMP
DS Blackwood said the aim of Operation Vulcan is not only to shut down counterfeit street, but also to pursue multiple prosecutions for other major offences.
“It needs to feel safe, it needs to be for the law-abiding community,” DS Blackwood said.
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“We will do whatever it takes – arresting people for drug dealing, if they have premises – which a lot of them do – we will take it off them, and we will close it.”
Featured Image – GMP
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The full 2026 MOBOs Fringe programme for the first-ever awards in Manchester has been revealed
Danny Jones
Now the BRITs have been and gone, it’s time to switch our focus to the next big awards show: the 2026 MOBOs, which is also coming to Manchester for the very first time, and they’re bringing the popular Fringe event along with it.
Get ready for more big showbiz hustle and bustle to hit the city centre before you know it; we, for one, are so ready.
Similar to the aforementioned BRIT Awards, the MOBOs also hold a regular ‘Fringe’ music, arts and cultural festival with each annual edition.
You can see the full range of this year’s largely free-to-attend MOBOs Fringe lineup and the extensive schedule in its entirety down below.
Manchester, it’s your time.
The full #MOBOFringe 2026 programme is here – nine days of music, culture, panels, parties and showcases across the city ahead of the #MOBOAwards on 26 March.
As you can see, there’s a lot on the cards this year, with different activities and activations happening all over central Manchester.
Featuring everything from exclusive live sets, sport and other entertainment, to various selectors and even a creative summit, it’s jam-packed with countless aspects beyond just that music that help make the industry as a whole tick.
Venues involved include The Whitworth Gallery, faithful Green Island Festival partners, the Niamos Centre, multi-purpose bars and events spaces like Side Street and Renae, as well as important music venues like The Deaf Institute and Aviva Studios – a.k.a. the home of Factory International.
Each hosting a variety of different dates over the course of its nearly week-long duration ahead of the MOBO Awards themselves, there’s something for everyone and anyone interested not just in Black music and entertainment but Black-British culture and more.
For instance, we already heard about the exclusive basketball match between Manchester and a fellow European competitor, and tickets are live as we speak. You can see the full Fringe programme in more detail online.
Running from Thursday 19 to Tuesday 24 March, the event week is shaping up to be a cracker.
As for the inaugural Manc MOBOs ceremony at Co-op Live, it gets underway just a couple of days later on the following Thursday (26 Mar).
serving as the perfect way to close the Fringe and this year’s edition as a whole.
Tickets for the MOBO Awards Manchester debut are live as we speak, with general admission prices starting from less than £30. You can grab yours HERE.
As for those expected to be in attendance, the likes of Olivia Dean and local rapper Aitch have already been confirmed for the live music lineup, and to see the full list of nominees, look no further…
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via MOBO Awards)
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The Christie cancer patients’ artwork to be displayed at Manchester’s new Banksy-inspired exhibition
Emily Sergeant
Cancer patients will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see their artwork exhibited in Manchester this month.
The Christie Charity has partnered with the upcoming immersive exhibition, The Mystery of Banksy – A Genius Mind – which is opening down at Depot Mayfield this week, making its UK debut – meaning that patients currently being treated at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust will have a chance to prove just how powerful and transformative art can be.
The Christie has been invited to showcase a selection of artwork, all with the aim of highlighting the role art plays in supporting cancer patients.
The new exhibition – which is set to celebrate the powerful, visual storytelling associated with Banksy – will feature more than 200 Banksy-inspired works under one roof, and the Christie patients’ pieces will now accompany them.
At present, The Christie is the only hospital in the UK that offers a dedicated art service for patients.
Funded by The Christie Charity, the hospital provides a relaxed and welcoming space for patients between treatments.
The Christie cancer patients’ artwork to be displayed at Manchester’s new Banksy-inspired exhibition / Credit: Supplied
Led by artist in residence Pat Mountford and supported by volunteers, the art sessions are informal, accessible, and open to all – with no previous artistic experience required to join, and patients being given the option to drop-in as and when they choose.
The art room offers patients a place to unwind during what is often of the most challenging period of their lives, as through painting, drawing, and collaborative projects with one another, they’re encouraged to explore their creativity and take time away from the clinical environment.
“Art has an extraordinary ability to help people process what they’re going through,” commented Pat Mountford.
“For many patients, the art room becomes a place of calm, creativity and connection at a time when life can feel overwhelming. Seeing their work showcased in a public exhibition is incredibly empowering.”
Visitors to the exhibition will also have the opportunity to bid on the Christie patient artwork.
A QR code displayed alongside the artwork will allow members of the public to place bids, with all proceeds supporting fundraising efforts for the Total Body PET-CT Scanner. Additional pieces created by patients will be displayed throughout The Christie’s hospital corridors and will also be available to bid on as part of the auction.
The Mystery of Banksy – A Genius Mind is set to open this Friday 13 March and will run through to 5 July 2026 at Depot Mayfield.
Tickets are now on sale, with standard adult tickets starting at £22, children under six going free, and a range of concession tickets also available for 7-16 year olds, seniors, and all NHS workers to benefit from.
Emily Sergeant -
25th October 2022 
