The Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, Craig Guildford, has retired with immediate effect following intense criticism over his force's role in banning fans of Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv from a match.
A Decision Forced by "Political and Media Frenzy"
Craig Guildford, 52, announced his departure on Friday, 16 January 2026, stating that the ongoing controversy had become a harmful distraction. In a statement, he said, "I have come to the conclusion that the political and media frenzy around myself and my position has become detrimental to all the great work undertaken by my officers and staff." He chose to retire rather than face being sacked by the region's Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster.
The crisis stemmed from a decision in November to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending a Europa Conference League match at Aston Villa's Villa Park. The local Safety Advisory Group (SAG) acted on police advice citing safety concerns.
Damning Watchdog Review Uncovers Critical Failings
The situation escalated dramatically after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood ordered a review by Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Andy Cooke. The report, published on Wednesday, was described as "devastating" and found a catalogue of errors in the intelligence report West Midlands Police supplied to the SAG.
Sir Andy's review identified eight significant inaccuracies, including:
- A reference to a non-existent match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and West Ham, which was found to be an "AI hallucination" generated by Microsoft Copilot.
- Overstating the number of Dutch police officers deployed during a related match.
- Incorrect claims that fans were linked to the Israeli Defence Forces.
- Unsubstantiated reports that Muslim communities had been intentionally targeted by the fans.
While the review found "no evidence" that antisemitism influenced the decision, it concluded there was an "imbalance" in the information used and a "failure of leadership" and "confirmation bias" within the force.
Fallout and Calls for Further Accountability
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who had lost confidence in Mr Guildford, said he had "done the right thing" by stepping down. Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster welcomed the retirement, stating it prevented a complex dismissal process that would have been a "significant distraction." Deputy Chief Constable Scott Green has been appointed as Acting Chief Constable.
However, the controversy is far from over. The Campaign Against Antisemitism called for Mr Foster to resign for failing to sack the Chief Constable. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp accused the Labour commissioner of being "too weak to act" and argued that retirement was "simply not good enough." Both the Liberal Democrats and Mr Philp have pressed for a misconduct investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which can proceed even after an officer's retirement.
Mr Guildford, who first became a constable in 1994 and led the West Midlands force since 2022, is entitled to his full pension. The force now faces the considerable challenge of rebuilding trust and confidence with all communities across the region.
