Operation Vulcan partners work together to stamp out crime in Cheetham Hill and Strangeways

Today (Tuesday 28 February) Greater Manchester Police was joined by the Deputy Mayor and Assistant Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for Police, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire, Kate Green and Bev Hughes, Chief Constable Steve Jupp, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Serious Organised Crime, and Immigration Enforcement officers, to showcase the results Operation Vulcan has achieved so far with their multi-agency approach.

The day began with a planning session with partners to discuss the next steps of how Operation Vulcan can collectively tackle the criminality in Cheetham Hill and Strangeways, whilst maintaining a sustainable and systematic approach, ensuring that the local community and the safeguarding of victims remains at the heart of the operation.

At midday, officers conducted multiple joint visits with Immigration Enforcement to two premises on Moulton Street and Harris Street. These visits are conducted regularly to ensure that no workers are being exploited or taken advantage of.

Detective Chief Inspector Jen Kelly, one of Operation Vulcan’s leading officers said: “It was great to welcome our visitors today to show the hard work our team are doing on a daily basis to restore Cheetham Hill and Strangeways to a thriving hub of legitimate businesses. Our work is much deeper than just raiding the shops, and we work regularly with our dedicated partners to ensure every element of criminality is targeted, and every victim is safeguarded.”

Kate Green, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for Police, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire, said: “Operation Vulcan is such an important initiative which is proving to be very successful in stopping and catching those who are blighting these communities.

“It’s not just about stopping the production and sale of counterfeit goods, but the wider serious crime and violence all related to this in this area. Serious and organised crime gangs have been operating in this area for too long, preying on vulnerable people to line their own pockets and dragging the whole community in Cheetham Hill and Strangways down. It will not be tolerated, and I’ve been really impressed to see first-hand how GMP’s Operation Vulcan team, in coordination with partners, are stopping and catching those responsible and driving this criminal activity out for good.”

Kendal Barnett, HM Inspector for North West Immigration Enforcement said: “Immigration enforcement is a really important part of tackling organised crime in Cheetham Hill and Strangeways, which is why we have a dedicated immigration officer embedded within Greater Manchester Police, focused solely on Operation Vulcan.

“This joint partnership working allows us to share intelligence and work closely with police to identify suspects who may not only be breaking immigration law, but could be vulnerable to exploitation by criminal gangs because they don’t have the same protections as those with the right to work in the UK. We are committed to safeguarding people who may be at risk of modern slavery, and we are pleased to be supporting Operation Vulcan with this targeted, more joined up approach.”