West Midlands Police chief retires over Israeli followers ban row

[ad_1] Alex McIntyre West Midlands

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/bcf1/live/e1aea1f0-f310-11f0-9c83-cf045898c668.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/bcf1/live/e1aea1f0-f310-11f0-9c83-cf045898c668.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/bcf1/live/e1aea1f0-f310-11f0-9c83-cf045898c668.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/bcf1/live/e1aea1f0-f310-11f0-9c83-cf045898c668.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/bcf1/live/e1aea1f0-f310-11f0-9c83-cf045898c668.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/bcf1/live/e1aea1f0-f310-11f0-9c83-cf045898c668.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/bcf1/live/e1aea1f0-f310-11f0-9c83-cf045898c668.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/bcf1/live/e1aea1f0-f310-11f0-9c83-cf045898c668.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="West Midlands Police Craig Guildford looks at a line-up of police officers while dressed in full police uniform." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> West Midlands Police Craig Guildford blamed the "political and media frenzy" for his resolution to resign

The chief constable of West Midlands Police has retired after damning criticism of a choice to ban Israeli followers from a match in opposition to Aston Villa.

Craig Guildford's retirement was confirmed on Friday after each Downing Road and the house secretary mentioned this week that they had misplaced confidence in his management.

He confronted quite a few calls to resign after apologising for offering incorrect proof to MPs, which included the denial that AI was utilized in a report which led to the choice to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv followers from the sport on 6 November.

Asserting his retirement, Guildford, 52, didn't provide an apology and blamed what he described because the "political and media frenzy" for his resolution to step down.

"I've fastidiously thought of my place and concluded that retirement is in the most effective pursuits of the organisation, myself and my household," he mentioned.

"It has been the honour of my profession serving because the chief constable of West Midlands Police."

In an announcement to reporters, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Simon Foster mentioned he welcomed the choice and was "happy this end result had been reached".

"That has prevented what would possibly in any other case have been a fancy process that may have induced important distraction, affect and price to West Midlands Police and the broader West Midlands," he added.

Foster mentioned he was happy the result was reached "having regard to due course of and the legislation".

"It was necessary this matter was resolved in a balanced, calm, truthful, measured and respectful method."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/faba/live/705aa170-f301-11f0-b2ab-f70ba525289e.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/faba/live/705aa170-f301-11f0-b2ab-f70ba525289e.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/faba/live/705aa170-f301-11f0-b2ab-f70ba525289e.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/faba/live/705aa170-f301-11f0-b2ab-f70ba525289e.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/faba/live/705aa170-f301-11f0-b2ab-f70ba525289e.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/faba/live/705aa170-f301-11f0-b2ab-f70ba525289e.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/faba/live/705aa170-f301-11f0-b2ab-f70ba525289e.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/faba/live/705aa170-f301-11f0-b2ab-f70ba525289e.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="PA Media PCC Simon Foster wears a suit while reading from a file outside of his office." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> PA Media West Midlands PCC Simon Foster mentioned he welcomed Guildford's resolution

The backlash got here after a preliminary evaluate by the policing watchdog discovered "affirmation bias" influenced the choice to bar supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending Villa Park.

His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Andy Cooke mentioned a number of "inaccuracies" had been included in a report given to Birmingham's security advisory group by West Midlands Police, together with reference to a non-existent fixture between Maccabi Tel Aviv and West Ham.

In proof to MPs, Guildford initially steered the misguided info had been recognized in a Google search or by way of social media, however in a letter to the Residence Affairs Committee (HAC) revealed on Wednesday he mentioned it was the results of utilizing Microsoft Copilot, an AI device.

Sir Andy mentioned the power had additionally "overstated" the extent to which dysfunction at a earlier match in Amsterdam was attributable to Maccabi followers.

Different criticisms included exaggerating the variety of Dutch law enforcement officials deployed throughout that fixture.

He additionally discovered the power in its recommendation had overstated the menace posed by the Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters, whereas understating the dangers posed to the Israeli followers.

In its response to the criticism, West Midlands Police mentioned it was "extraordinarily sorry" for the errors, including: "None of this was performed with an intent of deliberate distortion or discrimination."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/f148/live/baf1efe0-f301-11f0-b2ab-f70ba525289e.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/f148/live/baf1efe0-f301-11f0-b2ab-f70ba525289e.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f148/live/baf1efe0-f301-11f0-b2ab-f70ba525289e.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/f148/live/baf1efe0-f301-11f0-b2ab-f70ba525289e.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/f148/live/baf1efe0-f301-11f0-b2ab-f70ba525289e.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/f148/live/baf1efe0-f301-11f0-b2ab-f70ba525289e.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/f148/live/baf1efe0-f301-11f0-b2ab-f70ba525289e.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f148/live/baf1efe0-f301-11f0-b2ab-f70ba525289e.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="House of Commons Home secretary Shabana Mahmood speaking at the dispatch box in the House of Commons." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Home of Commons Residence Secretary Shabana Mahmood mentioned Guildford had performed "the proper factor"

Residence Secretary Shabana Mahmood mentioned Guildford had performed "the proper factor" in retiring.

"The findings of the chief inspector have been damning," the Birmingham Ladywood MP mentioned. "They set out a listing of failings which have harmed belief in West Midlands Police."

She thanked him for his years of service and paid tribute to the work of officers on the power who "maintain their neighborhood secure every single day".

"At the moment marks a vital first step to rebuilding belief and confidence within the power amongst all of the communities they serve," she added.

The Marketing campaign Towards Antisemitism has additionally referred to as for Foster to resign.

In an announcement, chief govt Gideon Falter accused West Midlands Police of getting "lied and obfuscated, victim-blaming Jews as a substitute of taking over the Islamists".

"His retirement, after the pitiful failure of West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster to sack him, ought to consequence within the resignation of Mr Foster as properly," he mentioned.

The Unbiased Workplace for Police Conduct mentioned it could proceed to look into the power's actions following Guildford's retirement.

Director basic Rachel Watson mentioned it had been inspecting a "wealth of proof" and would assess whether or not any impartial conduct investigations needs to be carried out.

"If that's the case, we have mentioned we're ready to make use of our powers of initiative to independently examine within the absence of formal referrals," she added.

'Sacrificed for doing his job'

Unbiased MP Ayoub Khan, whose Birmingham Perry Barr constituency contains Villa Park, the place the match occurred, mentioned Guildford's retirement marked a "darkish and shameful chapter".

When the choice to ban Maccabi followers was taken in November, Khan backed plans to both cancel or relocate the match.

He has additionally repeatedly referred to as for the chief constable to stay in submit.

"We have all simply witnessed one of many greatest injustices of our time," he added.

"A chief constable has been sacrificed not for gross misconduct in public workplace however for doing his job."

Repeating remarks he made within the Commons on Wednesday, he mentioned Guildford was "thrown beneath the bus as a result of he did not conform to political strain".

Guildford first grew to become a police constable in 1994 and has served as the top of West Midlands Police since 2022.

He had many successes in his three years heading the power, which included bettering the dealing with of 999 calls and and recording a 6% fall in crime by October 2025.

Foster mentioned deputy chief constable Scott Inexperienced has been appointed performing chief constable because the power sought to "rebuild belief and confidence" within the West Midlands.