An undercover police operation in Piccadilly Gardens has led to 24 “alleged drug dealers” being arrested.
The arrests were made during the early hours of yesterday morning (14 May) as part of a huge operation “to tackle drugs supply in Piccadilly Gardens”, as well as forming part of Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) ongoing ‘Operation Vulcan’ – which was launched in September 2023, and is a mission to crackdown on organised crime, the sale of counterfeit goods, and hit the finances of the gangs operating out of the Cheetham Hill and Strangeways areas of Manchester.
Almost 300 officers from across the force executed 23 warrants at addresses across Greater Manchester as part of the operation yesterday morning, and in total, 22 men and two women, all between the ages of 18 – 45, were arrested.
Arrests were made on the suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.
The successful arrests come after officers from ‘Operation Vulcan’ have been running an undercover operation in Piccadilly Gardens for the last six months, alongside specialist officers from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU), and their high visibility patrols.
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#OpVulcan | Undercover operation in Piccadilly Gardens leads to 24 arrests.
For the past six months, we've had undercover police in Piccadilly Gardens. You might not have seen then, but they will have seen you.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) May 14, 2024
“You may be used to seeing our Operation Vulcan team in uniform, but what you won’t have noticed, is the undercover officers in and amongst the suspected criminals,” GMP admitted in a statement following yesterday’s arrests.
All those arrested currently remain in police custody while officers search their houses.
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So far, GMP has seized almost £10,000 in cash, and hundreds of snap bags of drugs, as well as having recovered several crucial mobile phones and sim cards.
Detective Sergeant Matt Donnelly, from GMP’s Operation Vulcan, described yesterday’s action as a “huge operation”.
24 ‘alleged drug dealers’ arrested following undercover GMP operation in Piccadilly Gardens / Credit: GMP
He continued: “We know how deeply the drugs trade impacts our communities, and the violence and depravity it brings with it, which is why we have launched such a major operation to tackle it.
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“By arresting 24 people, I can confidently say we have dismantled and disrupted several different county lines and local drug networks. But we won’t be complacent, and this should be a warning for anyone who thinks criminal activity is welcome in our city.
“We want to make sure criminals are living a life of high anxiety, and I hope that anyone who considers coming to Piccadilly Gardens to deal drugs is constantly looking over their shoulder.”
Featured Image – GMP
News
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Emily Sergeant -
15th May 2024 
