News
GMP reveals what really happens to counterfeit clothes they confiscate
Where does it all go?
Greater Manchester Police have revealed what really happens to counterfeit goods after they have been seized.
Cheetham Hill and Strangeways has long been well-known as the place to go for cheap, fake designer goods. But GMP’s Operation Vulcan was set-up in November 2022 as a bold multi-agency targeted action plan designed to rid these areas of criminal activity.
Officers say this form of criminality exposes ‘children to serious violence and subjects honest business owners to extortion’. In a post on social media, GMP wrote: “People often see these counterfeit items as a victimless crime.
“Unfortunately, these cash only businesses have resulted in hundreds of thousands of pounds being funnelled into the criminal market, funding the drugs trade, firearms, exploitation, and money laundering.”
Six months on, police have shut down over 100 counterfeit shops and over 300 tonnes of counterfeit clothing has been recycled and repurposed. But where does it all go?
The items, retrieved from Cheetham Hill and Strangeways in Manchester, have now been recycled for the community. In a social media post the force said: “Some of the hats, t-shirts and gloves which are made from safe materials can simply be de-branded and given to charities and local community organisations.
“Anything else gets shredded and then reused to create items such as dog bedding or horse blankets. Even the packaging and boxes the items are sold in gets re-used and recycled and can create insulation for houses.
“A top priority for Operation Vulcan was to minimise waste and make sure the counterfeit items could be put to better use. Working with a specialist company, Lighthouse Security, police have been able to repurpose the counterfeit items, turning them into safe and useful products.”
Gunnar the dog now has a new bed made from repurposed counterfeit items and other items have also been repurposed into horse blankets or insulation for housing.
Though GMP have said they still have a long way to go to eradicate criminal activity from the area.
Inspector Andy Torkington, one of Operation Vulcan’s specialist officers said: “The community and their needs are at the heart of Operation Vulcan and the fact we have been able to repurpose and recycle everything and give it back to those in need really makes a difference.
“We are seeing excellent progress in the area, but there is still a long way to go until the criminality is eradicated.
“Our police presence will not stop, and we will continue to work with our partners to deliver on our promises to revitalise the area and protect the communities of Cheetham Hill and Strangeways.”
News
Oasis announce huge reunion tour as Liam and Noel Gallagher ‘make peace’
The news we’ve all been waiting for!
After years of will-they-won’t-they speculation, Oasis are officially BACK together for a reunion tour.
The Gallagher brothers have put aside their differences in the name of music, making thousands of fans extremely happy in the process.
The band teased the news on their socials over the weekend, posting a video on Sunday morning with today’s date (Tuesday, August 27th) and the time 8am.
And now shows have been announced for multiple dates in the UK and Ireland, with tickets going live this Saturday, August 31st.
The legendary Mancunian rockers will take to the stage next summer, with gigs in Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Dublin and, of course, Manchester.
15 years after splitting, the band confirmed they would be back for 14 shows, saying: “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised”.
The gigs will be Oasis’s ‘only shows in Europe next year’, with tickets on sale this Saturday at 8am in Ireland and 9am in the UK.
The Oasis 2025 tour dates in full:
July
4th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
5th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
11th – Manchester, Heaton Park
12th – Manchester, Heaton Park
19th – Manchester, Heaton Park
20th – Manchester, Heaton Park
25th – London, Wembley Stadium
26th – London, Wembley Stadium
August
2nd – London, Wembley Stadium
3rd – London, Wembley Stadium
8th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
9th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
16th – Dublin, Croke Park
17th – Dublin, Croke Park
You can grab your tickets HERE.
News
Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries
Fancy a career change?
Stagecoach Manchester is hiring over 100 new bus drivers to work from its Oldham depot, following the second phase of the Bee Network launch in March.
You can apply for a range of roles, from positions with no experience required to fully qualified bus drivers.
Successful applicants will receive full training as part of the job, and trainees will get paid to train. Then after only 12 months’ service at Stagecoach, drivers can expect to earn up to £16 per hour, which equates to £31.6K per year, before overtime.
As well as that, drivers that already hold a PCV licence may be eligible to receive a £1,200 joining bonus.
Stagecoach
There’s also a host of other benefits available to all Stagecoach employees, like 28 days paid holiday, generous pension and free Stagecoach bus travel for successful applicants and a companion.
Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Expanding our offering in Oldham means we’ll be investing more in the economy and supporting our local community, as well as strengthening our workforce.
“Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re a fully qualified, experienced bus driver, there’s a role for everyone here in Oldham.
“We’re looking for personable and dedicated drivers who are ready to help us build on the success of the Bee Network and connect the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester with the places and people that are important to them.”
Stagecoach
Phil Cornwall, bus driver at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “I’ve been a driver at Stagecoach for 25 years and I couldn’t recommend it more.
“From the perks to the people to the passengers, it really is a great place to work.”
To apply, head to the Stagecoach website HERE.
Two men have now been charged with murder, following the discovery of a human torso in Kersal Dale.
As well as that, more suspected human remains were also discovered this morning, Monday April 29th, in an alleyway close to the railway lines off Worsley Road, Eccles.
This follows earlier discoveries of human remains over the past three weeks, at Kersal Dale, Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood, all in Salford.
Greater Manchester Police
Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder.
They are set to appear at Tameside Magistrates Court this afternoon.
While formal identification is still ongoing, the remains found at Kersal Dale are believed to be of a local man in his 60s. The remains found at the other three locations are still to be tested, but police are confident they belong to the same victim.
ACC Sarah Jackson said: “We have had large numbers of officers, staff and specialists working diligently on this investigation over the last three weeks. It has been very much a large, collective effort, with the victim and family at the heart of it from the outset.
“We have specially trained officers deployed to support the family as they come to terms with this tragic news. They are aware of this morning’s further discovery and will continue to be kept up to date with how we are progressing.
“Despite the charges brought today, our work is far from over.
“The scenes we already have established in Bury and Salford will remain in place for much of this week whilst our searches and enquiries continue. Local officers will continue to patrol the impacted areas to provide reassurance.
“We will continue following every line of enquiry to recover and reunite the victim with his family, bringing a dignified end to this terrible scenario.
“I’d like to thank the communities of Salford and beyond for their cooperation throughout this investigation. I know this incident has come as a shock, and the support we’ve had from those in the area is very much appreciated.”
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