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How fake goods crackdown is helping local projects

Suzanne Hailey & Lauren Hirst
BBC News
GMP A composite image of the outside and inside of the property on Lockett Street. The left image shows a building which appears to be derelict with barbed wire around the entrance. The right image shows rows and rows of counterfeit clothing and bags. GMP
The property on Lockett Street has now been transformed into a dance studio

Nearly £18m has been seized from criminals by Greater Manchester Police's economic crime unit in the past year.

Recent investigations have included Operation Vulcan, which targeted the fake goods trade in the Cheetham Hill and Strangeways areas of Manchester.

Some of the money has already been reinvested into community projects, with the aim of improving areas once blighted by criminality.

One local initiative to benefit is JD Dance, based in one of the venues raided by police on Lockett Street as part of the crackdown on counterfeit goods.

GMP Police are carrying out a raid on the property on Lockett Street. Three police officers are facing towards a metal roller shutter - one is using angle grinder with sparks flying into the air. GMP
Police carried out a series of raids as part of Operation Vulcan

The dance school's founder Jennie Doolan said she was able to open the doors to more pupils after being awarded £8,000 under the police's asset recovery incentivisation scheme.

"I needed a new venue as we're growing, so the fact the police were able to help out and give us that money, it just helped us."

The funding also enabled the dance school to purchase new equipment as well as uniform and competition outfits for the children.

"This [property] was one of the first warrants when we set up [Operation Vulcan] in 2022," said Insp Daniel Cullum.

"When we came in here it was four floors of counterfeit goods.

"On the top floor there was actually a rope. Criminals would effectively try and climb out when the police entered on to the roof next door.

"It is a totally different space now. It's great to see it's been given back to the community."

Jennie Doolan is smiling directly at the camera. She is wearing a black hooded jumper and is standing in front of a white panelled wall.
Jennie Doolan said the money had helped the dance school to open its doors to more children

When the building was raided, officers found £1m worth of goods and £500,000 in cash.

More than 200 counterfeit shops have since been closed down in the area.

Det Supt Andy Buckthorpe, head of economic and cyber crime, said Greater Manchester Police was "leading the way in terms of our economic crime response".

"It's fantastic for me personally to see the other side of it, where that money is then used to benefit the local community."

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