A retired officer who took part in an operation which led to the arrest of 67 football hooligans has been awarded the Queen’s Police Medal.

Former PC Jim Rentell served with British Transport Police for more than 40 years, becoming a specialist in football policing.

Sometimes seconded to West Midlands Police or the national football unit, he worked at Euro 96, France 98 and the Champions League Final in Cardiff last year.

He became the football intelligence officer for Wales and Western, and later the Midlands division of BTP.

In 1987 the Aston Villa fan took part in Operation Red Card, a West Midlands Police-led operation to infiltrate Birmingham City football firm the Zulus.

This led to the arrest of 67 suspected hooligans.

He said: “I am very honoured that BTP thought so highly of me over my 44 years of service and put my name forward for this honour.

“I think what I’d really like to say is thank you for the support of my family – especially my wife Mary, who I have been married to for nearly 40 years – and my two sons Patrick and Andrew, and their other halves.”

Chief Constable Paul Crowther said: “This award is just recognition of his contribution to policing the railway and keeping the public safe and I want to once again thank Jim for everything he did for BTP.”

Other rank-and-file officers recognised in the QPM list include Greater Manchester's Sgt Abed Hussain for building relationships with different communities in Bury..

He created Bury’s LGBT Rainbow Walks, which lead to the town’s first ever Pride march and included speeches from Sikh, Hindu, Christian and Muslim leaders and also set up the Bury Muslim Forum which has helped increase the understanding and reporting of domestic abuse and other issues.

He said: “I am honoured to have been awarded such a prestigious medal for doing the job I really love. I enjoy coming to work every day and working with the great communities of Bury.”

Elsewhere, Essex Police Sgt Janet Bloomfield who has worked with children and young people for more than a decade, helping to reduce anti-social behaviour, is given the honour.