The Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, Craig Guildford, is to retire from his post following a damning official inquiry into his force's handling of a ban on Israeli football supporters.
A Controversial Ban Based on Flawed Intelligence
Guildford's departure, understood to be announced officially at 4pm on Friday by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, comes after intense pressure. This followed a report by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary which found the force used "exaggerated and untrue" intelligence to justify preventing Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a Europa League match against Aston Villa in November 2025.
The safety advisory group, informed by West Midlands Police, decided to ban the visiting fans, leading to accusations of capitulating to antisemitism. Central to the force's defence was intelligence from Dutch police regarding fan behaviour at a Maccabi match against Ajax in Amsterdam in November 2024. However, Dutch authorities later disputed the UK force's interpretation, stating the cause of trouble was more mixed.
Mounting Political Pressure and 'Devastating' Findings
The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, described the inspectorate's report as "devastating" and publicly declared she had lost confidence in the chief constable. She stated the ultimate responsibility for the force's failures on a matter of national importance rested with him.
Guildford, 52, who has served for 32 years and led the force since 2022, faced criticism from the highest levels, including the Prime Minister and other senior ministers. The fallout led some fellow chief constables to believe his position was untenable and that staying on was damaging the national reputation of policing.
During two appearances before the Home Affairs Committee, Guildford's testimony attracted further criticism. He admitted that part of a police dossier erroneously referenced a non-existent match between Maccabi and West Ham, information gathered incorrectly using artificial intelligence.
The Final Straw and Legacy
Despite previously being praised by Commissioner Foster for boosting crime-fighting and public service, Guildford ultimately decided the unrelenting pressure was too great a distraction. He had intended to face a public questioning session called by Foster for 27 January but chose to retire earlier, on Friday, with entitlement to his full pension.
The inspectorate's report, led by Sir Andy Cooke, highlighted that West Midlands Police overstated the threat from Maccabi fans while understating risks to them, amid intelligence that some in Birmingham were preparing to arm themselves. Specific claims about fans throwing Muslims into a river were incorrect; in reality, an Israeli fan was thrown in, a fact known to English police from Dutch reports.
Simon Foster must now begin the search for a new chief constable to lead the Birmingham-headquartered force, one of the largest in the UK. The episode leaves a significant mark on British policing and its engagement with international sporting events.
