30 Christmas shoppers had to be rescued by police after being left trapped inside a building selling counterfeit goods in Cheetham Hill.
After officers conducting high visibility patrols in the area heard people shouting for help, they forced entry to the premises with an emergency warrant granted to preserve life and rescued the group of shoppers who were found huddled inside, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained.
It eventually transpired that one of the workers in the shop had been alerted by ‘spotters’ in the area – which are people paid to keep watch and alert illegitimate business owners of approaching police officers.
The worker had then locked the business and made an escape, which left members of the public shopping for Christmas trapped inside.
After rescuing the shoppers, officers then began searching the building and ended up finding lots of single-room shops selling counterfeit designer clothes, watches, electronics, and various other items, before setting about bagging, tagging and seizing everything within the building.
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GMP says this process took over five days to complete due to the sheer amount of counterfeit goods.
This is the latest in a series of recent raids that are part of the ongoing ‘Operation Vulcan’.
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Operation Vulcan is GMPs’ mission to crackdown on the sale of counterfeit and hit the finances of the gangs operating out of the Cheetham Hill and Strangeways areas of Manchester.
30 Christmas shoppers had to be rescued after being trapped inside a building selling counterfeit goods in Cheetham Hill / Credit: GMP
“Our officers had a duty of care to force their way in and safeguard the individuals who had been trapped inside a building that was structurally unsound, utterly unsafe, and from which they had absolutely no means of escape,” explained Detective Superintendent Neil Blackwood.
“I appreciate that at Christmas time everyone wants to find a bargain, but by going to these illegal shops in the Cheetham Hill and Strangeways area, consumers are not only funding criminality, they are also putting themselves in very real danger.
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“This isn’t the first report we’ve heard of members of the public being locked in, and we’ve even received reports of customers being assaulted by staff.
“This latest seizure will make a dent in the finances of criminals but where Operation Vulcan will make the most impact is if members of the public start to shun these illegal businesses.
“They are bringing devastating harm to our communities and those running them have no regard for your safety or welfare.”
Featured Image – GMP
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Manchester’s ‘busiest’ road set to close for annual safety inspections this weekend
Emily Sergeant
The Mancunian Way is set to close for its annual safety inspections this weekend.
As Manchester City Council looks to ‘improve’ what is, by far, one of Manchester’s busiest and most-used roads, given the fact it is the main thoroughfare in and out of the city centre, it has been confirmed that a two-day closure of Mancunian Way is set to take place this weekend so that essential inspection works can be carried out.
With an estimated 15 million journeys taken along this road annually, the Council says it’s vital that inspections are conducted to keep traffic flowing.
Taking place over the weekend, both carriageways and their slip roads will be out of use from 6am on Saturday 26 June until 6am on Monday 28 June.
The closure will run from the Chester Road roundabout and Fairfield Street.
🚧 Mancunian Way Annual Maintenance
The Mancunian Way and its slip roads will be closed on 27–28 June for essential inspections and repairs.
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) June 22, 2026
Fully signed diversions will be in place during this time for vehicles travelling in both directions, the Council has confirmed – with diversion routes planned for Trinity Way, Great Ancoats Street, Bridgewater Viaduct, Whitworth Street West, Whitworth Street, and Fairfield Street.
Of course, this does mean that some disruption to the public is expected, with anyone travelling in and out of the city centre told to plan their journeys ahead of time, however the Council has chosen for the closures to be overnight so that any disruption is kept to a low a level as possible.
“Because of the tens of thousands of vehicles we see use the Mancunian Way every day, ensuring its proper maintenance and upkeep is essential”, commented Councillor Mandie Shilton Godwin, who is the Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment and Transport at Manchester City Council.
“There will be a level of disruption which is why we’d urge people to plan their journeys ahead and find an alternative route which avoids the closure.
“Thank you to everyone ahead of your patience as we carry out these essential works.”
Featured Image – Geograph
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Date for Greater Manchester’s next Mayoral Election officially announced
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester is set to vote for new Mayor, and the election date has now officially been announced.
After it was announced last Friday that Andy Burnham had clinched the victory in the crucial Makerfield by-election, winning 24,927 votes (54.8% vote share) and a majority of 9,231, and right off-the-back of announcing his intentions to run for Labour Party leader, and therefore Prime Minister, the date of Greater Manchester’s next Mayoral Election has now been announced.
As the role of Mayor of Greater Manchester also holds Police and Crime Commissioner powers, as an elected MP, Burnham is now disqualified from holding the office of Mayor.
“It is with some sadness that this result brings an end to my wonderful nine years as mayor of Greater Manchester,” Andy Burnham said in his victory speech last week.
“This city region has given so much to me, and it is a wrench to leave the job I love, but I am not leaving the service of Greater Manchester.
“I’ve always been clear that it can’t achieve everything it should be and we can’t close the north-south divide, and we can’t make all the great English cities be what they should be without big change at the national level.”
The date for Greater Manchester’s next Mayoral Election has officially been announced / Credit: GMCA
In accordance with the law, an election to fill the vacancy of Mayor must be held within 35 working days.
Therefore, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Returning Officer has determined that a Mayoral Election will be held on Thursday 30 July 2026.
More information on the upcoming election, and the full list of candidates running for the position, is set to be announced in due course.
Timeline wise on the Prime Ministerial side, Keir Starmer says he will ask the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party to set out a timetable for the takeover, with nominations opening on 9 July and to be completed by the summer recess (16 July), and in the case of a contest, this will ensure a new leader is in place before Parliament returns in September.
Starmer will remain in post as Prime Minister until the contest is complete, adding: “I will do everything I can to ensure an orderly handover of power.”
Featured Image – Mangopear Creative (via Unsplash)
Emily Sergeant -
14th December 2022 
