TOP Bradford detective Steve Snow is investigating a new career challenge.

The former detective chief inspector, who has just retired after 30 years of crimefighting with West Yorkshire Police, aims to put his experience to good use in a media advisory capacity.

He is looking to help give realism to TV crime dramas and similar media outlets.

Mr Snow finished his policing career on a high when he was recently given a prestigious award by West Yorkshire Police for "30 years of outstanding contribution to crime investigation, leading to the imprisonment of many offenders for considerable sentences and getting justice for families involved."

Mr Snow, 53, who latterly was with the force's Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, worked for most of his career as a detective in the Bradford district, dealing with numerous high profile cases.

He retired this month but says he won't be putting his feet up.

He said: "I am going to miss the job. It was a big decision to retire when I did, but probably the right one.

"I have had a long and successful career and I am going to take a couple of months off to travel. But after that I shall be looking to work somewhere where I can use the skills I have acquired over the last 30 years. I am keeping my options open, but it could involve consultancy work with other law enforcement-type agencies, or I am looking to get involved in the media side, particularly offering advice about authenticity to programmes.

"Whether I can find anything as challenging and rewarding as I have had in the last 30 years is doubtful."

Mr Snow, who is married with two children, was involved in dozens of high profile cases; most recently he led successful investigations which saw the convictions of Danish Irfan, for the murder of his 21-year-old wife Ridda Zanab, at their home in Lidget Green, Bradford, and Wakar Akhtar, 21, of Canterbury, Bradford, who was extradited from Italy to serve a 17-year jail sentence for conspiracy to rape.

But he regretted not being able to conclude the outstanding murder cases of Heaton businessman Sajid Saddique, 32, who disappeared on Valentine's Day, 2007, in Shipley; and taxi driver Mohammed Basharat, who was executed at his taxi office in Little Horton, in October 2001.

Mr Snow said one of the high points of his career was Operation Garvagh, a major investigation into serious organised crime in Bradford which resulted in more than 70 convictions and many significant jail sentences.

He added: "Even when I was serving at specialist units, my work kept calling me back to Bradford.

"No doubt I will be able to play a bit more golf now. In one sense it will be nice to put my feet up, but I do intend to work again."