Nine people have been arrested as part of a joint operation targeting the counterfeit goods trade in the Cheetham Hill.
It comes after Greater Manchester Police (GMP), together with North West Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit, City of London Police’s Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit, the Intellectual Property Office, and its other partner agencies, have this week executed warrants and exercised powers to “fight, prevent, and reduce” crimes being committed in the north Manchester area.
Counterfeit goods and drugs were seized in “large quantities”, as well as a significant sum of cash.
GMP says the nature of the crimes being committed in Cheetham Hill have gone on to have an impact “locally, regionally and nationally”.
Detective Superintendent Neil Blackwood said that the raids carried out this week are about “so much more” than the counterfeit goods trade that the area is known for though.
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#ACTION | Nine arrested during a joint operation targeting the counterfeit goods trade in the Cheetham Hill area of North Manchester.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) July 21, 2022
“The trade, which often involves organised crime groups, is strongly linked to money laundering and immigration offences, and we also know the area is a hotspot for sexual offences and traffic offences,” he explained.
“Too often unbeknownst to members of the public who buy counterfeit goods, they are often produced using poor quality materials and / or banned substances which put health at risk.
“Ourselves and our partner agencies are committed to ridding this area of criminal activity and will use all powers at our disposal and we will be taking proactive and robust action against this trade in Strangeways.
“Members of the public can be reassured that this is a priority for us.”
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Large quantities of counterfeit goods and drugs were seized, as well as a “significant sum” of cash / Credit: GMP
“The counterfeit goods trade isn’t a victimless crime,” added Detective Sergeant Adam Williams from the Police Intellectual Property Unit (PIPCU) at the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU).
“Often criminals use the profits to fund other organised crime, and with that often comes violence, which can have devastating effects on the local community. The staff employed to run these counterfeit shops are often vulnerable people who are paid below the minimum wage, whilst the criminals enjoy lavish lifestyles from the proceeds of their crimes.”
“This week’s activity should send a clear message,” he added.
“We will stop at nothing to tackle this issue and it’s a priority we will continue to crack down on.”
Featured Image – GMP
News
Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre
Daisy Jackson
Police are trying to track down the family of a man who died after being found unresponsive outside the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
The man, who has now been named as Jonathan Bernard Carroll, was seen outside the city centre theatre at around 6.30am on Tuesday 12 November.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and Mr Carroll was taken to hospital.
Tragically, the 47-year-old passed away a short time later.
A large cordon was in place on Whitworth Street and Oxford Road while police and security attended the incident.
Greater Manchester Police are now appealing to find his next of kin.
It’s believed that he resided in the Salford area of Greater Manchester.
Anyone with any information should contact the Coroner’s Office on 0161 856 1376.
Greater Manchester public urged to help get people ‘off the streets and on their feet’ before Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Locals are being urged to help get hundreds of people “off the streets and back on their feet” this festive season.
As the temperatures told colder by the day, and Christmas creeps closer and closer, Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity is bringing back ‘1000 Beds for Christmas’, and the massively-important initiative is aiming to provide 1,000 nights of accommodation to people at risk of homelessness before the big day arrives.
Forming part of the ongoing ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme, this festive fundraising mission is designed to provide food, shelter, warmth, and dedicated vital wrap-around support for those who need it most.
The charity says it wants to build on the “incredible success of 2023”, which raised more than £55,000 and provided 1,800 nights of accommodation.
Stockport-based property finance specialists, Together – which has supported the campaign for the last two years – has, once again, generously pledged to match every public donation for the first £20,000 raised.
Unfamiliar with the ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme? Since 2017, when rough sleeping peaked, the initiative has helped ensure a significantly-higher rate of reduction in the numbers of people facing a night on streets in Greater Manchester than seen nationally.
The landmark scheme has given people the chance to rebuild their lives, while also giving them access to key services and opportunities that allows them to stay off the streets for good.
Despite the scheme’s recent success, organisations across Greater Manchester are under “a huge amount of pressure” to meet the demand for their services this winter, and given the current economic outlook, household budgets will continue to be squeezed – leaving people on the sharp end of inequality and poverty.
Emily Sergeant -
22nd July 2022 
