Three people have been arrested and a “significant seizure” of counterfeit goods have been made as part of the latest Cheetham Hill raids.
Yet again, as part of what is Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) ongoing ‘Operation Vulcan’ – which is a 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 – officers joined forces with their partner agencies to target a premises on Great Ducie Street earlier yesterday (18 July).
Counterfeit clothing, footwear, electronics, and accessories were all seized by police from the Cheetham Hill-based premises.
The amount of goods seized was said to be “significant”, according to GMP.
The crackdown saw GMP team up with partners from UK Border Force, Immigration Enforcement, Manchester Trading Standards, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), and the anti-social behaviour team from Manchester City Council, as well as with several other professional brand representatives.
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Just like in a number of other previous raids in recent months, when officers arrived at the scene and proceeded to saw off the shutters and smash through doors, they found a man and his son inside the premises.
The two had been locked inside against their will by the shop keepers.
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Three arrested and ‘significant’ amount of counterfeit goods seized in latest Cheetham Hill raids / Credit: GMP
“It is remarkable that even though it has been nine months since the creation of Operation Vulcan, a small contingency of criminals continue to think that they can open shops and profit from illicit activity,” Inspector Andy Torkington, from GMP’s Operation Vulcan, said after the latest Cheetham Hill raids.
“Operation Vulcan is here to stay in the area and if you are looking to purchase fake products, you won’t find them here in Cheetham Hill.”
Inspector Torkington acknowledged that Cheetham Hill is an area that was once “well known for the sale of counterfeit goods”, but added that it’s “a testament to the dedication of our officers and staff alongside partner agencies who continue to ensure that those who distribute, sell and profit from the selling of these goods are brought to justice.”
“We continue to be present and visible in the area with a sincere dedication to shutting down shops that reopen,” he continued.
“Shops will not be allowed to reopen and prosper on our watch – they will be shut down immediately.”
Featured Image – GMP
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Cult US sustainable clothing brand Reformation to open in Manchester city centre
Emily Sergeant
Cult US sustainable clothing brand Reformation is set to open its doors in Manchester very soon.
Since it was first founded in Los Angeles all the way back in 2009, Reformation has gone on to become one of the largest sustainable womenswear brands on the planet, and is now known and loved for making beautiful, timeless apparel and accessories that aim to ‘inspire confidence’ across life stages and occasions.
Operating on a business model that pairs a smart approach to merchandising with a responsive supply chain, Reformation now operates more than 70 retail stores across the US, UK, Canada, and France.
At the heart of the Reformation story is a genuine commitment to ‘doing things differently’.
Since day one, sustainability has been woven into everything the brand makes – from the eco-certified fabrics and responsible factories, to its famously transparent sustainability reports.
Currently, Reformation has five UK stores to its name – but, it may come as no surprise to fans of the brand that they’re all in London.
That’s why the news of this new Manchester opening is such a big deal.
Set to be the label’s first UK store outside of the capital, Reformation has secured a prime spot on King Street in the heart of the city centre, and although there’s no confirmed opening date as of yet, if the shop windows saying ‘Summer 2026’ are anything to go by, we can only imagine it’ll be very soon.
“For Manchester, it’s a landmark moment, and for King Street, it’s the latest signal that this is one of the UK’s most exciting retail destinations,” a spokesperson for King Street said in a statement.
Stay tuned for details on opening dates to be announced in due course.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
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Andy Burnham to begin rolling out new ‘everyday fixes’ for Brits amid cost of living crisis
Emily Sergeant
A series of ‘everyday fixes’ to help combat the rising cost of living crisis are soon to be rolled out nationwide.
Kicking off with two measures today, new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that he plans to ban retailers from making ‘misleading’ claims to customers about discounts.
The Government says shoppers have ‘increasingly complained’ about outlets artificially inflating prices to give a false sense of value, such as increasing prices only to then immediately advertise ‘discounts’ to make savings look larger than they really are, which goes on to create an uneven playing field for honest competitors.
The Prime Minister also wants to see an end to so-called ‘subscription traps’, where people find it hard to cancel their subscriptions, and contracts are automatically renewed at a higher cost.
Set to come into force in January 2027 and saving people an average of £14 a month for every unwanted subscription, the changes will mean businesses will need to provide clearer up-front information, regular reminders. and a ‘much easier’ exit to contracts.
Andy Burnham to begin rolling out new ‘everyday fixes’ for Brits amid cost of living crisis / Credit: gov.uk | Piotr Cichosz (via Unsplash)
A new 14-day cooling-off period will also be introduced to let consumers cancel after a trial or long-term contract renews.
Certain charitable memberships, like the ones for cultural and heritage organisations for example, will be excluded from the new subscription rules due to the fact they have a unique role in preserving the nation’s history, landscapes, and cultural collections.
The Prime Minister says he is ‘determined’ to use every chance he gets to restore fairness and take pressure off people.
“I know people are sick and tired of rip-off discounts and subscription traps,” Andy Burnham said. “Westminster has got used to telling people that everyday hassles like this are just part of life, but I don’t think that’s right, especially when the cost of living continues to weigh heavily on so many people’s lives.”
Emily Sergeant -
19th July 2023 
