Key summary
A decorated convenience retailer in Manchester has raised serious concerns over the conduct of a multi-officer operation at his store, describing the unannounced visit as a troubling case of “compliance being punished while criminality goes unchecked".
On 30 June, One Stop Carlton Convenience in Salford, owned by award-winning retailer Priyesh Vekaria, was approached by a fire officer and eight Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers, including a sergeant and inspector, without any prior communication, warrant, or explanation.
According to Vekaria, the officers claimed they were acting on “intelligence” that the store had sold fireworks to underage individuals, a claim he describes as “malicious and baseless allegation".
Nearly three weeks on, no formal written explanation has been provided by GMP or Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, despite assurances of follow-up communication.
Speaking with Asian Trader, Vekaria recalled what all happened, "On the morning of 30 June, I received a call from my instore management team alerting me that several uniformed officers had arrived at One Stop Carlton Convenience in a police carrier van.
"From CCTV footage and staff accounts, seven to eight officers exited the vehicle and approached the store from the side, deliberately concealing themselves beside the building before making entry.
"This was an unannounced visit, with no prior contact, no engagement with store leadership and no immediate justification provided for the nature of their arrival.
"I attended the store shortly after being contacted and witnessed officers already inspecting various areas of the premises. The conduct and tone of the visit raised immediate questions, especially given the professionalism and transparency we operate under."
Vekaria, a former GMP officer himself, expressed deep concern about the professionalism of the visit, stating that at no point was a warrant presented, nor was any formal complaint or documented allegation shared.
"We were simply told the visit was in response to intelligence received, which we now understand to have been a malicious and baseless allegation suggesting we were selling fireworks to underage individuals.
"We were informed that a written explanation would follow in the days after the visit. Three weeks on, we have received no such communication.
"As a former GMP officer myself, I found the lack of transparency and process troubling, especially given the reputational implications for a fully compliant and community-committed business," he said.
The store's team responded with complete professionalism, added Vekaria saying, "they opened drawers, allowed access to storage areas and engaged respectfully throughout.
"Emotionally, however, the visit left staff feeling shaken and unfairly targeted. These are individuals who regularly de-escalate incidents, support community safety and help prevent the very situations that would typically require police intervention.
"To be treated with suspicion and subject to a coordinated operation left them demoralised and questioning whether their efforts are truly recognised," he added.
Despite the scale and severity of the operation, both Salford City Council and Trading Standards have confirmed they had no involvement. Letters have now been sent to the relevant authorities seeking clarity.
Raising the concern that this incident reflects a wider pattern of unfair targeting of compliant retailers, Vekaria said, "There is a noticeable pattern where legitimate, visible, compliant businesses are targeted heavily, while elusive operators, often trading under semi-convincing fronts, continue to fuel illicit markets and organised crime unchecked.
"What happened to us is a clear example of compliance being punished and criminality being ignored. We are proud of our store’s record, our standards and our role in supporting local enforcement."But when legitimate businesses are treated as suspects without basis and receive no follow-up, it signals a worrying misdirection of resources and undermines the trust that’s essential for collaborative policing."
Last year, Vekaria was coveted as Responsible Retailer of the Year at Asian Trader Awards 2024, a recognised honour given to a retailer who has demonstrated excellent adherence to legal and regulatory guidelines including the restricted sale of age-related products and working with authorities and their community to combat illicit trade in their area as well as a commitment to social responsibility and the environment.
One Stop Carlton Convenience is more than a retail outlet. It is a designated Safe Place, offering sanctuary and support for anyone in distress from vulnerable adults to children at risk.
Vekaria said, "Our store provides 24-hour access to a public defibrillator, a major trauma bleed control kit, and a LifeVac anti-choking device, lifesaving tools that have been funded and made accessible as part of our commitment to emergency preparedness.
"We’ve supported individuals fleeing domestic abuse, offered shelter during emergencies, and engaged directly with social services and safeguarding agencies when needed. We believe that community-first retailing is not just about what’s on the shelf, but about what we stand for behind the counter."
Asian Trader contacted Greater Manchester Police regarding the incident.
Acknowledging the visit but not directly addressing Vekaria's claims, a GMP spokesperson said, “Officers visited a store on Grecian Street, Salford, on 30 June, following reports that illicit and harmful items may be being distributed from there. We are under a duty to investigate these allegations, and officers attended the store as part of their investigation.
"We have received a complaint in relation to this, which will be assessed and reviewed appropriately.”