Businesses and LGBTQ+ people in Manchester’s Canal Street area have reported a rise in abuse and crime, with the latest incident involving the vandalising of an adult shop, CloneZone, for the third time in six weeks. This attack was described by the shop owner as a “premeditated, targeted hate crime,” with businesses and residents in the neighbourhood appealing for more police support to combat the issue.
The Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are currently attempting to identify two masked individuals on motorbikes responsible for the recent vandalism of the shop. The attacks have caused fear and anxiety within the LGBTQ+ community, which has always considered Canal Street a safe space. In response, GMP has increased patrols and circulated images of the criminals, one of whom was riding a distinctive red motorbike.
As official figures show a 41% increase in homophobic hate crimes and a 56% rise in transphobic hate crimes in the year to March 2022, concerns about safety have grown. Some people in the area have said they are afraid to walk around at night, and business owners, like Rob Melody, who works at Bar Pop, have had to switch from night to day shifts due to safety concerns.
The Manchester council leader, Bev Craig, has acknowledged the attacks as “concerning” and has pledged to ensure that they are being dealt with appropriately. She also pointed out that there has been a rise in hate crime towards the LGBTQ+ community across the country, which has been exacerbated by politics that have become increasingly divisive.
While it is not yet clear whether the recent attacks are homophobic hate crimes, many have speculated that the shop’s window posters featuring scantily clad men may have been the reason why the shop was singled out in an area full of LGBTQ+-owned businesses. Similar incidents have occurred across the country, including the recent transphobic hate crime in east London.
As businesses and residents of Manchester’s Canal Street area continue to voice their concerns and appeal for greater police support, the question of safety for LGBTQ+ people in the UK remains an urgent issue.