Looking back on two years of Operation Vulcan – the Greater Manchester Police initiative that shut down counterfeit street

Operation Vulcan is the multi-agency operation which blitzed the infamous area of Cheetham Hill and Strangeways which had earned the unfortunate moniker of ‘counterfeit capital of Europe.’

Looking back, there’s been numerous record-breaking busts which launched Operation Vulcan onto the global stage, including one 580 tonne seizure which was believed to be one of the largest single seizures worldwide.

The statistics speak for themselves, and thanks to relentless disruption and commitment by police and dedicated partner agencies, the results are indisputable. Operation Vulcan has successfully dismantled and disrupted the once entrenched network of organised crime groups operating in the area. In two years, we have:

• Seized almost 1050 tonnes of counterfeit items.
• Shut down 216 counterfeit shops.
• Made 238 arrests.
• Seized over £500,000 cash.
• Seized 2.4 million class C drugs.
• Seized almost 400,000 illicit vapes.

Following the Home Office framework of ‘clear, hold, build’, Operation Vulcan was one of the pilot initiatives, and following a visit from the Home Secretary in January 2023, was hailed for its efficacy in disrupting and dismantling the embedded criminality in the area.

And it was all funded using seized criminal cash and assets, which was reinvested via our Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS) – therefore not costing the taxpayers a penny.

With the community at the heart of the operation, police and partners have looked to reinvest in the community wherever possible. In November 2023, local Cheetwood Community Primary School received £20,000 ARIS funding which contributed to purchasing new playground equipment for the children.

In April 2024, a new dance school, JD Dance, opened up on Lockett Street,  which coincidentally, was one of the very first counterfeit shops Operation Vulcan raided in October 2022. The dance school received £8,000 of funding from GMP ARIS which has helped them settle into their new premises, purchase crucial equipment, and provide uniform and competition outfits for the children. They were also able to cover the costs of competitions for one year, giving parents a well-deserved break from fees.

The dance school provides classes for 150 students a week, with a focus on keeping the children busy and off the streets.

This week, we got to go and join in with a dance class and meet the children. Our goal is to increase positive interactions and experiences for young people with the police, to improve overall trust and confidence in our communities.

Moving forward, this style and tone of policing has been acknowledged as best practice, not just in the counterfeit world, but as a reinvigorated neighbourhood policing model. Over the past twelve months, this has been applied to several initiatives including Piccadilly Gardens, the transport network, and most recently in Bolton, to strategically and sustainably reduce crime in areas which once caused repeat operational demand on the force.

In two years, Operation Vulcan has received international recognition, and been invited to partake in expert panels at global conferences, including the Anti-Counterfeiting Group Annual Conference and Interpol’s International Law Enforcement IP Crime Conference. In October 2023, Operation Vulcan won the prestigious Tilley Awards which is a national award that acknowledges and celebrates the very best examples of problem solving in UK policing. In September 2024, they were presented with another esteemed international problem-solving award, The Herman Goldstein Award, which celebrates the best examples of effective policing across the globe.

But the communities of Cheetham Hill and Strangeways are rightly asking, what now?  

As the rigorous policing operation draws to a close, the neighbourhood policing team can be phased back in to hold the area, ensuring no criminal gangs fill the void. Manchester City Council, in partnership with Salford City Council, will now begin to facilitate the ‘build’ phase, looking ahead to a new Strategic Regeneration Framework early next year.  

Already, significant new housing is under construction on Bury New Road – including site preparations for 300 affordable homes by Latimer as part of a major 505-home development at the former Boddingtons Brewery site. Adjacent to this, the Salboy Waterhouse Gardens scheme is also under construction, providing 556 new homes. Beyond housing, Manchester College is building out the second phase of their campus development, whilst up Cheetham Hill Road nine new industrial/trade units are close to completion. 

The Council is also exploring opportunities to encourage new businesses and potential meanwhile uses in the heart of the Strangeways area, where Operation Vulcan has focused the majority of its effort, whilst also supporting existing businesses ahead of long-term investment being brought forward in the neighbourhood.  

The regeneration framework will also embrace the wide mix of cultural activity already in the area, including The Yard and the Jewish Museum, and identify a number of future opportunities to better animate the area in the short, medium and long-term.  

Detective Superintendent Neil Blackwood, who has lead Operation Vulcan from day one, said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to serve the communities of Cheetham Hill with this operation, and I would like to thank the public who have listened to our messages and joined our fight against the counterfeit trade.

“We’ve said it from the start that policing alone could not solve these issues, and the success of this operation must be attributed to the multi-agency approach. From day one, we were fortunate to have several dedicated partners on board – including Manchester City Council, Salford City Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Home Office Immigration Enforcement, Manchester Trading Standards, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, the Anti-Counterfeiting Group, Intellectual Property Office, brand experts and more.  By maximising our joint capabilities, we’ve been able to attack the criminality at every level by utilising every power, policy and resource available to cut off their funds, lock them up, and reinvest the money and resources back into the community who deserve it.

“Counterfeit crime is not victimless, and the money made from this lucrative business funds an array of sinister criminal activity. Cheetham Hill was a clear example of this. By decimating the counterfeit trade and systematically shutting down every shop, warehouse and storage unit involved, we’ve seen a reduction in violent crime, vehicle crime and theft from person. Drug dealing is no longer blatant and the community report that they feel safer.

Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “We are working closely with colleagues at Salford City Council on a regeneration framework for the Strangeways and Cambridge area that will transform this part of our inner city, bringing new homes, businesses, and new employment opportunities to this neighbourhood.  

“This would’ve been almost impossible only a couple of years ago, when criminality and counterfeiting were what this area was known for. But we know there is a huge amount of potential here and following the partnership operation with GMP, we have an opportunity to bring forward transformational investment and support legitimate businesses to thrive.  

“We have already begun informal conversations and engagement with local people and businesses that is helping to set the scene for a long-term regeneration plan, which will also help to bring both public and private investment to the area. And we, alongside Salford City Council, are looking to consult on this framework document in the New Year – setting out a roadmap for future development.” 

Director General of the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) Phil Lewis said: “Businesses and brand owners are thrilled with the unprecedented success of Operation Vulcan. This success is down to the dedication, expertise and multi-agency approach to problem solving which has been empowered by the Operation Vulcan team and partners.

“In addition to flooding markets with substandard and unsafe goods, counterfeiting brings organised crime, anti-social behaviour and regulatory offences into our communities which degrades social cohesion, diminishes local economies, and reduces the quality of life for residents. With a fair and level playing field restored, legitimate businesses now have the opportunity to drive economic growth, prosperity and revitalise the area with new jobs, innovation and integrity.”