Dozens of customers held against their will inside rat-infested store selling counterfeit goods in Manchester

Dozens of people were held inside a filthy store selling counterfeit goods in Manchester against their will after police were spotted in the area.

Officers said they noticed a man trying to hurriedly shut a shop on Great Ducie Street and when they unlocked the doors a group of customers who had been stuck inside ran out.

Further investigations found the building was rat-infested, had dangerous infrastructure and had counterfeit goods among the stock. The fire service has issued a prohibition notice as the store is so unsafe.

The discovery by police is part of Operation Vulcan targeting criminal activity in the Cheetham Hill and Strangeways areas of Manchester, with a particular emphasis on cracking down on the sale of counterfeit items.

What did police find at the shop on Great Ducie Street?

Officers were on patrol in Cheetham Hill and Strangeways as part of Operation Vulcan on Sunday 18 December when they noticed a man acting suspiciously, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

The man, in his 60s, was hurriedly trying to close the shutters of a premises on Great Ducie Street. Police detained him and unlocked the doors and when they did so a group of people who had been stuck inside all ran out.

Inside officers found more members of the public in three rooms on the second and third floors. Police say they had been locked in against their will when the man had spotted the officers in the area.

A search of the property found rat urine and faeces in the building, including on the shelves and all over clothing, underwear and make-up that was being sold. The basement was so stuffed with boxes and bags full of items which were intended for sale after being stored in unsanitary conditions that officers could not see the floor, GMP said.

Police say there was also dangerous infrastructure, including an underground air conditioning system which had been made by drilling holes into the pipes on the ceiling.

The Operation Vulcan team has now conducted a thorough search of the building and after two days of work have finished bagging up all the items. GMP says that so far,an estimated 20 tonnes of replica goods, including clothing, shoes, perfumes and make up, have been seized.

Manchester City Council’s Trading Standards team and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service have also been attending the scene to offer support to the police. The condition of the building was so bad that the fire service has slapped a prohibition notice on it.

What has been said about the conditions in the store?

Detective Superintendent Neil Blackwood from GMP said: “The state of this building was disgusting and so structurally unsafe. My team found members of the public trapped on the top floor with no means of escape.

“This isn’t the first time we’ve had to rescue members of the public from these buildings, but I urge people to think twice about entering these shops. With our presence increasing, the shop owners are becoming increasingly nervous and quick to lock the doors, no matter who is inside.

“By entering these shops, not only are you putting yourself in danger, but you’re funding serious organised crime which is having a devastating impact on the local community. These people do not care for your welfare; they’re simply trying to make some quick cash.”

David Minto, protection manager at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We’re working in partnership with Greater Manchester Police on Operation Vulcan and our fire safety officers are conducting fire safety inspections within the premises they’re raiding.

“Our fire safety inspectors attended this property and deemed it so unsafe, a prohibition notice has been served. Together we’re working hard to rid Greater Manchester of this illegal and dangerous activity that blights communities.”