PC Heidi Goldsack Wins King’s Police Medal for Wrexham Football 2026

Key Points

• PC Heidi Goldsack of North Wales Police has been awarded the King’s Police Medal (KPM) in the 2026 Birthday Honours for services to policing and the football community
• She is Wales’ first female Operational Football Officer (OFO) and volunteered to take on this role
• The honour recognises her exceptional work creating safer matchday experiences at Wrexham AFC and her contributions to the wider football community
• Goldsack pioneered a community policing approach at Wrexham AFC involving problem-solving and early intervention
• The 2026 Birthday Honours list includes 15 recipients of the King’s Police Medal in England and Wales
• North Wales Police has been increasing action in Wrexham with a positive effect on cutting crime
• The community policing approach at Wrexham AFC has created safer matchday experiences for everyone

Wrexham (Wales Times) June 13, 2026 — PC Heidi Patricia Goldsack, Wales’ first female Operational Football Officer, has been awarded the King’s Police Medal for her exceptional services to policing and the football community, marking a historic recognition of community policing work at the club famously known as “The Club With the Best Name in the World.”

As reported by the journalist at Leader Live, PC Goldsack received this prestigious honour in the King’s Birthday Honours 2026, which were formally announced on June 11, 2026. The medal recognises her dedicated work serving both North Wales Police and the football community, particularly through her pioneering role as Operational Football Officer at Wrexham AFC. According to the official announcement from the Scottish Government, the King’s Police Medal has been awarded to multiple members of Police Scotland and other police services across the United Kingdom this year.

The Wikipedia entry for the 2026 Birthday Honours confirms that Heidi Patricia Goldsack, serving as a Constable with North Wales Police, is among the England and Wales recipients of the King’s Police Medal, alongside other distinguished officers including Nicholas James Blackburn from the Metropolitan Police Service and Hayley Laura Crawford from Nottinghamshire Police.

What Makes PC Heidi Goldsack’s Role Unique Across Wales?

PC Heidi Goldsack volunteered to take on the Operational Football Officer role, becoming Wales’ first female OFO in this groundbreaking position. As reported by the journalist covering the story on Deeside.com, her volunteer status demonstrates the personal commitment she has shown to this specialised policing role, which requires exceptional dedication beyond standard police duties.

The Operational Football Officer position carries significant responsibility for ensuring matchday safety, managing crowd behaviour, and preventing anti-social behaviour around football venues. Goldsack’s achievement as the first female officer in this role across Wales represents a milestone for women in specialised football policing, breaking down barriers in a field traditionally dominated by male officers.

According to Deeside.com’s reporting, PC Goldsack received the honour specifically for “services to policing and the football community,” highlighting the dual nature of her contribution to both law enforcement and the local football ecosystem. Her work has extended beyond traditional policing to include community engagement and relationship-building with fans, players, and club officials.

How Has Community Policing Transformed Wrexham AFC Matchdays?

Officers in Wrexham have been pioneering a community policing approach at Wrexham AFC, involving problem-solving and early intervention to create a safer matchday experience for everyone, according to information from the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner’s website. This approach represents a significant shift from traditional reactive policing to proactive community engagement.

As reported on the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner’s website, PC Andy Dunbobbin, the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, and Amanda Blakeman, Chief Constable of North Wales Police, recently visited Wrexham to demonstrate how this campaign against crime and anti-social behaviour is having a positive effect. Their visit showcased the tangible results of the community policing initiative, including reduced incidents and improved fan satisfaction.

The recently opened Butchers’ Market Community Policing Hub, dubbed the ‘Cop Shop’, serves as a dedicated community policing point designed to increase accessibility and visibility within Wrexham City Centre. This hub complements the matchday policing efforts at Wrexham AFC by providing a permanent presence in the city centre where many fans congregate before and after matches.

What Did Official Sources Say About the Community Policing Impact?

On a recent visit to Wrexham, Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin and North Wales Police Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman showed partners how a campaign against crime and anti-social behaviour is having a positive effect, as documented on the official North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner website. Their public endorsement of the programme highlights the official recognition of Goldsack’s work at senior levels within North Wales Police.

The community policing approach has involved problem-solving and early intervention strategies, which have proven effective in creating safer matchday experiences. This methodology contrasts with traditional policing approaches that often respond to incidents after they occur, instead focusing on preventing anti-social behaviour through proactive engagement.

According to reporting from Deeside.com, PC Goldsack’s volunteer decision to take on the Operational Football Officer role demonstrates the personal commitment required for this specialised position, which has now been recognised with the King’s Police Medal. Her work has been instrumental in implementing the problem-solving and early intervention strategies that have transformed matchday safety at Wrexham AFC.

Which Other Officers Received the King’s Police Medal in 2026?

The King’s Police Medal was awarded to 15 recipients in England and Wales, including Chief Constable Rob Carden who recently took over as chief in Merseyside, according to Emergency Services Times’ reporting on the 2026 honours. This broad recognition across multiple police services demonstrates the significant number of officers whose work has been recognised this year.

Among the England and Wales recipients listed in the official 2026 Birthday Honours on Wikipedia are Nicholas James Blackburn, Detective Chief Superintendent from the Metropolitan Police Service; Hayley Laura Crawford, lately Inspector from Nottinghamshire Police; Yasmin Lalani, Detective Chief Inspector from the Metropolitan Police Service; and Kim Madill, Chief Superintendent from West Midlands Police.

For Police Scotland specifically, the King’s Police Medal has been awarded to Michelle Webster, Management Support Sergeant; Rhona Meikle, Police Sergeant; and Sarah Taylor, Detective Chief Superintendent, as announced in the Scottish Government’s official news release. This demonstrates the medal’s recognition across different police services throughout the United Kingdom.

How Has Police Action Reduced Crime in Wrexham City?

Increased action by police in Wrexham is having a positive effect on cutting crime, according to the official announcement from the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner published on February 8, 2026. This crime reduction forms part of the wider context in which PC Goldsack’s matchday policing work has been recognised.

The community policing approach at Wrexham AFC has been part of a broader Safer Streets initiative, where John Widdowson and Wrexham AFC Community Trust were recognised for their work addressing anti-social behaviour among young people on matchday and associated city centre anti-social behaviour, as reported on the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner website. This initiative demonstrates the collaborative nature of crime prevention efforts in Wrexham.

The Safer Streets Fund is a £75 million Home Office programme that encourages Police and Crime Commissioners and local authorities to bid for funding to support crime reduction initiatives. Wrexham’s success in implementing effective community policing measures has contributed to the broader crime reduction achievements in the city.

Background: The Development of Operational Football Officer Roles and King’s Police Medal Recognition

The Operational Football Officer (OFO) role represents a specialised policing position dedicated to ensuring safety and security at football matches. PC Heidi Goldsack’s achievement as Wales’ first female OFO marks a significant milestone in the diversification of specialised football policing roles across the United Kingdom. The role typically involves responsibilities including crowd management, anti-social behaviour prevention, matchday safety coordination, and community engagement with football fans.

The King’s Police Medal (KPM) is part of the King’s Birthday Honours system, which recognises exceptional service across various fields including emergency services. The medal specifically acknowledges members of police services who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to policing. In 2026, the honour list included 15 recipients of the King’s Police Medal in England and Wales, demonstrating the significant number of officers recognised for exceptional service this year.

North Wales Police’s community policing approach at Wrexham AFC emerged from the broader Safer Streets initiative, which received support through the £75 million Home Office Safer Streets Fund. This initiative has involved collaboration between North Wales Police, Wrexham County Borough Council, and Wrexham AFC Community Trust to address anti-social behaviour among young people on matchdays and in the city centre.

The establishment of the Butchers’ Market Community Policing Hub, known as the ‘Cop Shop’, represents an investment in permanent community policing infrastructure in Wrexham City Centre. This hub complements the matchday policing efforts and provides increased accessibility and visibility for police officers in the community.

Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin and Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman have publicly endorsed the community policing campaign, demonstrating senior-level support for the initiative that has contributed to Goldsack’s recognition. Their recent visit to Wrexham showcased the positive effects of the crime and anti-social behaviour campaign to partners and stakeholders.

Prediction: How This Honour Will Impact Wrexham’s Football Community and Policing Future

PC Heidi Goldsack’s receipt of the King’s Police Medal will likely have several significant effects on Wrexham’s football community and the future of policing at the club. For Wrexham AFC fans, this recognition validates the effectiveness of the community policing approach that has created safer matchday experiences, potentially increasing fan confidence and satisfaction when attending matches at the Racecourse Ground.

The honour is expected to inspire more women to pursue specialised football policing roles across Wales and the United Kingdom. Goldsack’s achievement as the first female Operational Football Officer in Wales breaks a barrier that previously limited women’s participation in this specialised field. This could lead to increased recruitment of female officers into OFO positions, bringing diverse perspectives to football policing and potentially improving community engagement with female fans.

For North Wales Police, Goldsack’s recognition will likely strengthen the organisation’s reputation for effective community policing and may encourage investment in similar programmes at other football venues. The positive effect on cutting crime that has been documented in Wrexham could be replicated in other communities where North Wales Police operates, potentially leading to expanded community policing initiatives.

The recognition may also strengthen the partnership between Wrexham AFC Community Trust and North Wales Police, encouraging further collaborative efforts to address anti-social behaviour. With John Widdowson and the Community Trust already recognised for their Safer Streets initiative work, Goldsack’s honour could motivate additional funding and support for joint community safety programmes.

For young people in Wrexham who have been targeted by anti-social behaviour interventions on matchdays, this recognition reinforces the message that community policing aims to create safer environments rather than simply enforce rules. The early intervention and problem-solving approach that has been praised by senior police leaders may gain increased support from local authorities and community organisations.

The broader impact extends to the 14 other King’s Police Medal recipients in England and Wales, as Goldsack’s recognition highlights the importance of community-focused policing approaches that extend beyond traditional law enforcement. This could influence policing strategies across multiple police services, encouraging greater investment in community engagement and preventative approaches to crime reduction.