Former St Albans top cop Alison Roome Gifford has been presented with her Queen’s Police Medal by Princess Anne in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

The medal is in recognition of her outstanding contribution to policing and is awarded to officers who have enjoyed a distinguished career in terms of exception contribution and professional conduct.

Alison, who joined the force in September 1982, was involved in a number of high profile operations and incidents including the Potters Bar rail crash in 2002, the Watford bank siege in June 2011 and more recently, the Bilderberg Conference at the Grove Hotel in 2013.

She was appointed as the first police commander for the Central Herts in 2001, with responsibility for St Albans, Hertsmere and Welwyn Hatfield and prior to that was the divisional commander for St Albans.

Alison now works across the three forces of Herts, Beds and Cambs as director of change and is temporary Deputy Chief Constable of Herts.

She said: “Reciving my award from Princess Anne was very special and I was thrilled to have my family with me for such an important occasion in my life.”

She added: “There’s never been a day that I have regretted becoming a police officer. I have been very lucky and enjoyed a fabulous career serving the people of Hertfordshire.”