Police plan to bulldoze 'Counterfeit Street'

[celeste]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-63392253?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

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Buildings could be bulldozed to tackle a well known crime hotspot in Manchester, police have said.

An operation starts next week to target criminal gangs who deal drugs, run counterfeit shops and control prostitution on Bury New Road.

Police say many premises are crammed with fake designer clothes and bogus Rolex watches or house cannabis farms.

Many places would also fail fire safety tests police and the city council say.

The neighbourhood, nicknamed Counterfeit Street, is a hub for drug dealing and other serious crime with gangs using modern-day slaves in their counterfeiting operations, police said.

Det Supt Neil Blackwood said: "A lot of the property is probably at the end of its life.

[Parky]

Or the cynic might say that after decades of criminal behaviour the police together with the council have seen that they can grab some land at a knockdown price

[sofcookies]

When you listen to the full interview he goes on to say bulldozing would be last resort but with some of the buildings he cannot see what else they can do.  It may be that a fire officer may see it differently. 


Closing down due to fire safety and then putting in compulsory purchase order will take some time to do but  taking in fire officers when raiding seems to make more sense.  Taking the stock and then closing down the facility may be preferable. 


Trouble is the man hours involved must be a nightmare.   

[sofcookies]

Would also hate for this to affect legitimate business and charities in the area.
 [size=78%]HOME | Coffee4Craig | Manchester Homeless Charity[/size] has it's base there and the building is a lifeline for many homeless on the streets of Manchester.


Real homeless not those fake homeless making a living from the streets.