Derker community group recognised for support of Vulcan partnership work

A Derker community group has been awarded a prestigious District Commanders' Award for its tireless work in supporting Operation Vulcan’s deployment to the area, as well as its wider contributions to the community.

Friends of Stoneleigh Park – which operates the park in the Derker area – received the accolade for their exceptional voluntary service in contributing to the partnership work, and local policing.  

Operation Vulcan was deployed to the area at the start of 2025, and has since made more than 240 arrests and countless hours of engagement. 

The group has been crucial in connecting the Vulcan and local neighbourhood policing teams with the community, leading to improved trust and confidence with residents. 

The park itself has hosted multiple engagement events and activities for families in the area – including the Holiday, Activities, and Food programmes (HAF). 

These events saw various activities for young people, including bike obstacle courses, climbing walls, arts and crafts sessions, VR headsets and more. 

These community days also allow officers to engage with local people, discuss their issues, find solutions, and provide appropriate material and support where necessary. 

Operation Vulcan has utilised the Clear, Hold, Build tactic as part of their deployment – clearing criminality out of an area, stabilising and laying foundations, and then working with various partnerships to build long-term community resilience. 

The community group and park have been instrumental in the holding and building phases of this, by maintaining a committed presence and dedication to improving amenities and services for people wherever possible. 

This includes individual volunteers and local people, who have put in countless hours of their own time to contribute to the vision of the partnership. 

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Julien, from Operation Vulcan, said: “Friends of Stoneleigh Park have been crucial to the successes that the Vulcan partnership have achieved over the last year, and it is only right that they have been recognised for this. 

“I have got to know some of the volunteers very well and I know just how much they care about Derker and ensuring it is a safe place for all. From the get-go, they have been dedicated to working with us as part of the deployment and this has been critical to us building confidence with local people. 

“The continued and dedicated work of Friends of Stoneleigh Park, together with the partnership, will enable Derker to maintain its successes over the long term.”