News
Gay Village adult store Clonezone has been vandalised for a THIRD time in six weeks
'This has got to stop.'
Daisy Jackson -
25th April 2023 
Clonezone, an adult store in Manchester’s Gay Village, has been broken in to for a third time in six weeks.
The shocking spate of vandalism against the local business, which has been part of the city for almost 40 years, last night saw its windows smashed with a crowbar.
The vandals reportedly sped off from the scene on a moped.
Canal Street Media shared photos of the shop, which was the UK & EU’s first Gay superstore, on Instagram, writing: “We’re sad to report that for a 3rd time in 6 weeks @czmanchester has had their windows smashed in.
“It’s evident that @gtrmanchesterpolice and @manchestercitycouncil need to act now to protect #lgbt spaces.”
Jeremy Hoad, chair of Friends of Manchester’s Gay Village Committee, posted on Facebook: “Clonezone has been attacked for a third time with both windows smashed with crowbars.
“FOMGV Chair Jeremy Hoad spoke to staff this evening to check they were OK and offer support against this violence.
“Coincidentally, Jeremy and FOMGV Deputy Chair John Cotterill attended a meeting only hours before this latest attack to discuss policing in the Gay Village alongside others from our community.
“GMP are already investigating the first two attacks and providing an additional presence in the Gay Village.
“We stand together against any and all violence targeted at individuals or businesses in the Gay Village.”
Glitterbeam Radio posted on Twitter: “We are shocked to see that Clonezone Manchester has been vandalised AGAIN. It’s the 3rd time in 6 weeks. @AndyBurnhamGM @gmpolice we hope in your intervention with a matter of emergency.”
Another person said: “Yet again it looks like CloneZone, a queer business that is located right in the heart of the Gay Village of Manchester, has been targeted and vandalised in clearly targeted hate and harassment. This has got to stop.”
Someone else posted: “My thoughts with the team at @czmanchester who are putting up with endless hate at the moment. I hope all the queer community rally behind them and give them support as they have been putting up with endless targeted hate. We must defend our community.”
Less than two weeks ago, Clonezone reported another incident of targeted vandalism.
They wrote at the time: “It saddens me to, again, be writing this but would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of well wishes and support we have received after the second incident of targeted vandalism against Clonezone Manchester.
“All the staff are safe and well. And Clonezone Manchester is open for business as usual.
“We are working with the police and other village businesses to try and find the culprits and bring them to justice.
“If anyone does have any information or witnessed two grown male-presenting people on a motorbike driving along Sackville Street on Thursday 13th April, at around 9:40pm, please get in touch. You will be kept anonymous, should you wish.
“Once again a huge thankyou from the team at Clonezone Manchester for all the support and kind words.
We will not be beaten by this.”
Read more
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Featured image: The Manc Group
