Hundreds of clothing items seized by police from counterfeit shops in Manchester have now been donated to a local charity that works to “combat poverty”.
The initiative is part of the ongoing ‘Operation Vulcan’.
In case you’re unfamiliar with ‘Operation Vulcan’, it’s Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) mission to crackdown on the sale of counterfeit goods and hit the finances of the gangs operating out of the Cheetham Hill and Strangeways areas of Manchester.
It comes after hundreds of raids have been carried on counterfeit shops in the area over the last 14 months, with thousands of tonnes of counterfeit items removed from the streets from criminal’s pockets, who police say were “once making millions of pounds of profits from this lucrative trade”.
GMP says a “top priority” for ‘Operation Vulcan’ was to “minimise waste” and make sure the counterfeit items seized were “put to better use”.
#NEWS| Operation Vulcan donate repurposed counterfeit clothing to local charity.
Over 900 tonnes of counterfeit items have been repurposed or recycled, turning them into useful, safe products which the people of Greater Manchester can benefit from.
And so, by working with a specialist company, almost 1,000 tonnes of counterfeit items have since been repurposed or recycled, and subsequently turned into useful products which the people of Greater Manchester and beyond can benefit from.
To give an example of this, police say some of the hats, t-shirts, and gloves made from safe materials were de-branded and then given to charities and local community organisations.
Items that were deemed unsuitable or unsafe have been shredded to create completely new items, such as bedding or blankets, and even the packaging and boxes that the items are sold in are able to be recycled into insulation for houses.
None of the counterfeit items seized during ‘Operation Vulcan’ go to waste, GMP insists.
Police have donated hundreds of seized counterfeit clothes to Manchester charity / Credit: GMP
Just this week alone, GMP’s dedicated ‘Operation Vulcan’ team donated hundreds of items of clothes to a local charity called Mustard Tree – which works to combat poverty, inequality, and homelessness in Manchester.
“The community and their needs are at the heart of Operation Vulcan,” explained Inspector Dan Cullum, who is one of Operation Vulcan’s specialist officers, “and the fact that we have been able to repurpose and recycle everything and give it back to those in need really makes a difference.”
Harry Dwan from the Mustard Tree added: “This donation is gratefully received and will now be provided to those who need it most such as those sleeping on the streets, low-income families and those who are most vulnerable in the community.
“We can’t thank Tim and the Operation Vulcan team enough.”
Featured Image – GMP
News
Urgent appeal after woman, 70, dies after being found unconscious with ‘serious injuries’ on a Tameside road
Emily Sergeant
An urgent appeal has been issued after a woman was found unconscious with ‘serious injuries’ on a road on the Tameside / Oldham border.
Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Serious Collision Investigation Unit is appealing for information after the woman, aged 70, was taken to hospital upon being discovered on Waggon Road in Park Bridge, which is an area on the border of Tameside and Oldham, at around 2:30pm this past Sunday afternoon (10 August).
Police say their investigation is centred on trying to find out how the woman came to be on the road, and ultimately, uncover more about the incident as a whole.
This is why officers are now appealing to the Greater Manchester public.
#APPEAL | Our Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) is appealing for information after a woman died after being found unconscious on a road on the Oldham/Tameside border yesterday (10/08/25). pic.twitter.com/lzjANgh8Tg
Anyone who saw the incident, or who may have dashcam footage, is urged to call GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 4741, quoting incident number 1858 of 10/08/25.
You can also call 101, or talk to GMP via the LiveChat function at www.gmp.police.uk.
Any reports or concerns about the incident can also be made anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – Google Maps
News
Manchester Youth Zone reopens following impressive £1.6m transformation
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Youth Zone has officially relaunched following a significant £1.6 million investment and months of transformation.
Designed hand-in-hand with the young people of Harpurhey, where the centre – which is proudly a member of the OnSide Youth Zones – is based, the revitalised space represents a bold new chapter for Manchester Youth Zone (MYZ) and the new state-of-the-art facilites offer an exciting range of opportunities and experiences for young people to enjoy.
MYZ is open all year round to provide a ‘safe space’ for young people across North Manchester aged eight to 19, or up to 25 with additional needs.
Football, basketball, podcasting, music, cooking, boxing, dance, and dedicated wellbeing spaces are just some of the activities on offer for young people now that the refurbishment is complete.
The refurbishment is a major milestone for MYZ and its renewed mission to help young people discover their ‘purpose, passion, and pathway’ in life.
Manchester Youth Zone has reopened following an impressive £1.6m transformation / Credit: Supplied
This means that the newly-refurbished centre also offers space and facilities for meaningful support – with one-to-one navigators and youth workers working closely with the children and families to help ‘break down barriers’ and ‘unlock potential’.
MYZ is one of 140 youth centres in England to benefit from a Youth Investment Fund grant, announced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The Youth Investment Fund was granted to MYZ as part of the Government’s National Youth Guarantee to ‘transform and level up’ opportunities for young people in England.
“We’re delighted to unveil our newly transformed Manchester Youth Zone,” commented Heather Etheridge, who CEO of Manchester Youth Zone.
“It’s a significant milestone for MYZ and we’re extremely proud of the new space and what it has to offer the young people of Harpurhey.
“From its state-of-the-art facilities to dedicated wellbeing spaces we are a shining example of how investment, vision, and youth-led design can create lasting impact, and how truly transformational spaces can change lives.
Emily Sergeant -
12th December 2023 
