GMP reveals what really happens to counterfeit clothes they confiscate

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.”