Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) extensive crackdown on organised crime in Cheetham Hill has led to a significant transformation of the area, with unforeseen consequences emerging in the crackdown’s aftermath. Beginning in autumn 2022, GMP launched Operation Vulcan, a coordinated, multi-agency year-long initiative aimed at eliminating criminal activity in the district, which was previously known as the “counterfeit goods capital of Britain.”

Cheetham Hill had long been associated with the trade of counterfeit products, believed to account for roughly half of the UK’s £8.6 billion annual fake goods market. The area also harboured more serious organised criminal enterprises, including gangs manufacturing and distributing drugs, firearms, and counterfeit prescription medication. Additionally, Cheetham Hill had gained notoriety as Manchester’s ‘red light district,’ with many sex workers identified as victims of modern slavery and human trafficking, particularly from eastern Europe.

By 2024, GMP’s efforts had resulted in the closure of 216 counterfeit stores and the arrest of 238 suspects. Authorities confiscated over £500,000 in cash, more than 1,000 tonnes of counterfeit goods, class C drugs valued at £2.4 million, and approximately 400,000 illicit vaping products. According to Detective Superintendent Neil Blackwood, the crackdown contributed to a 50 percent reduction in violent crime and public order offenses, with drug dealing becoming less visible and local residents reporting a heightened sense of safety.

However, the removal of these illicit businesses has also had unintended economic and social effects. Customer foot traffic in the area declined by about 30 percent, and shop owners report a downturn in activity. Longstanding local businesses have expressed concern over reduced trade, with some considering relocation. For instance, Maiwand Safi, an employee at a local takeaway, described the area as unusually quiet, while grocery store owner Surbir Arora said that many shops remain closed, rendering the neighbourhood “dead.”

In the spaces left by shuttered counterfeit shops, a new cluster of vape wholesale businesses has proliferated. Over two streets—Harris Street and Overbridge Road—there are currently 54 vape outlets, making Cheetham Hill one of the largest vape markets in Europe. Vendors report customers coming from across northern England and Scotland to purchase vaping products and accessories, distributing them to retailers nationwide.

While the Manchester City Council has defended Operation Vulcan as necessary to prepare the area for long-term investment, critics argue that regeneration efforts have lagged. The council noted that £100,000 was spent on public space improvements last year, with plans to review further investment opportunities, but some view this as insufficient given the scale of change required.

There have been isolated successes in repurposing former criminal enterprises; for example, a building that once housed multiple counterfeit shops has been converted into a dance school. Nevertheless, many parts of Cheetham Hill remain underdeveloped, with cracked pavements, litter, and quieter streets creating a stark contrast to the area’s former vibrancy.

The situation in Cheetham Hill highlights the complex challenges of urban renewal following the dismantling of entrenched criminal networks. While crime rates have dropped significantly, questions remain about the economic and social vitality of the neighbourhood moving forward, and whether current efforts will support sustainable development in the long term.