Four men have been arrested as a counterfeit shop disguised as a fast food takeaway in Cheetham Hill has been shut down by police.
As part of Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) ongoing ‘Operation Vulcan’ – a targeted action plan designed to eradicate “criminal activity” from Cheetham Hill, Strangeways, and the surrounding Manchester areas – four men working in a takeaway on Bury New Road had their lunch break disturbed last week.
Except they weren’t actually working in a takeaway at all, as their business was, in fact, a store selling counterfeit goods masquerading as a fast food restaurant instead.
Apparently, the four men were enjoying a bite to eat when police raided the “extremely unhygienic” Cheetham Hill premises, but they’d bought the food from somewhere else to further play into the takeaway disguise.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) June 10, 2023
After gathering some intelligence that suggested the “innocuous takeaway” was linked to the counterfeit goods trade, as well as even more “serious criminality”, this is when GMP successfully executed a pre-planned warrant to raid and eventually shut down shop.
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During the raids, officers discovered a large counterfeit shop above the ‘takeaway’, and went on to seize numerous fake items.
Clothes, shoes, perfumes, jewellery, and a “large quantity of cash” was all seized.
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Following the raids, four men – who were 43, 42, and two aged 32 – were each arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit trademark offences, GMP confirmed, and they were subsequently taken into police custody for questioning.
Police shut down counterfeit shop disguised as a takeaway in Cheetham Hill / Credit: GMP
“I hope this warrant sends a clear message to the final few remaining counterfeit shops in Cheetham Hill that there will be no hiding in plain sight,” warned GMP’s Detective Sergeant Matthew Donnelly of Operation Vulcan after the raids.
“As we’ve said all along, counterfeit goods are only the tip of the iceberg and these shops are often involved in more serious criminality that blights surrounding communities.
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“The building was also totally unsafe and puts anyone entering it at risk.
“The criminals running these enterprises have no regard for your safety and I would urge you to spend your hard-earned money elsewhere with people who deserve it.”
Featured Image – GMP
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TfGM issues statement as ‘essential’ work begins on three major Metrolink lines across Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Passengers are being urged to plan ahead as no trams will be running on three major Greater Manchester lines for the next two weeks.
If you need bringing up to speed a little, as part of the ongoing £150m investment into Greater Manchester’s tram network, essential improvement work is being carried out on three major Metrolink lines across the region in a bid to make the network ‘safer’ and ‘more resilient and reliable for passengers’ for years to come.
This means that from today (Monday 19 October) through to Sunday 1 November, tram improvement works will take place at Deansgate-Castlefield, and Trafford Bar.
Additional works will also take place in the city centre during this time, allowing TfGM to keep closures of the tram network to a minimum.
During the dates above, no trams will run on the Altrincham, Trafford Centre, and Eccles lines.
A number of shuttle bus services will the running over the course of the two-week closure, however – with services arriving every 10 or 15 minutes, depending on the line, and you can find a full list of these here.
But despite the alternative services, widespread disruption is still expected for hundreds of people.
TfGM has issued a statement on the works being carried out, and offered support to anyone who may need it: “This is essential work that will help keep our tram network safe, reliable and fit for the future. We’re sorry for the disruption and we’ll be doing everything we can to make sure people can still get around while it’s taking place.
“We’ve listened carefully to feedback from customers during previous closures and have introduced more direct shuttle buses between key locations and extra buses on local Bee Network routes.
“If you use any of the affected lines, now is the time to check your travel plans.
“We’d encourage everyone to visit the Bee Network website or app before travelling so they can see the options available to them and allow extra time where necessary.”
Services will resume on these lines from start of service on Monday 2 November.
However there will be some minor route changes through the city centre in place from Monday 2 to Wednesday 4 November, so it’s important to check your journey before you travel.
Featured Image – TfGM
News
Victim named and murder investigation launched after young woman is killed in Newton Heath stabbing
Emily Sergeant
The victim of a street stabbing in Newton Heath this week has been named for the first time as a murder investigation continues.
It comes after officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) responded to reports of a disturbance at around 2am yesterday (Thursday 15 October) on Dorking Avenue, in the Newton Heath area of Manchester, and when they arrived on the scene, they found a woman in her 20s with serious injuries that were ‘consistent with a stabbing’.
Despite best efforts of all emergency services involved, the young woman was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
As the murder investigation progresses, the woman has now been publicly named and a photo of her has been released for the first time.
She has been named as 26-year-old Alisha Samuels.
At this time, one man, aged 25, has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and a man and woman, aged 61 and 38, have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, and they all remain in custody – with officers continuing their enquiries to establish the full circumstances of this incident.
Alisha’s family have asked for privacy whilst they deal with the devastating loss of their loved one, GMP has stated.
“We are continuing to urge people who may have information in relation to this incident to please come forward to support our investigation and bring justice for Alisha,” the police force said in a public appeal.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or has mobile phone, CCTV, or doorbell footage, is urged to call GMP on 0161 856 5464, or contact them via the Major Incident Public Portal here.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
Emily Sergeant -
12th June 2023 
