Significant pressure is mounting on West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford to resign, but the only official with the power to sack him is refusing to act immediately. Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Simon Foster, a former legal aid lawyer and Jeremy Corbyn supporter, insists he must follow due process before making a final decision.
Damning Report and Political Pressure
The crisis was triggered by a "devastating" report published by Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Andy Cooke. The report blasted senior officers for fabricating and exaggerating evidence to justify banning fans of Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending a match against Aston Villa last November. It identified widespread failings, including the use of inaccurate information about links between fans and the Israeli Defence Forces.
In a rare intervention, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told the Commons she had lost confidence in Mr Guildford. Health Secretary Wes Streeting added to the pressure, stating he would be "horrified" if the Chief Constable remained in post by the end of the day and calling the situation a "stain on his character."
PCC's Stance on Due Process
Despite the intense political scrutiny, PCC Simon Foster has so far declined to dismiss the Chief Constable. In a statement, he argued that all issues must be given "full and proper consideration" in accordance with the law. He announced he will take the matter to a public meeting of his accountability and governance board on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, where he will question Mr Guildford directly.
Mr Foster, who was elected for a second term in May 2024 with 327,844 votes, is described as a stickler for process. His background as a legal aid lawyer and his political affiliations have come under focus. He previously chaired the south Birmingham branch of Momentum and publicly thanked Jeremy Corbyn for his leadership.
The Controversial Ban and AI Hallucination
Sir Andy Cooke's report concluded that West Midlands Police misled the public after its decision to ban the fans caused a major backlash, condemned by the Prime Minister as "wrong." In a startling revelation, the force was found to have used an "AI hallucination" to try to justify the ban, citing "evidence" from a Maccabi match that never actually occurred.
Hours before the watchdog's report was published, Chief Constable Guildford apologised for misleading MPs to whom he had given evidence on the matter the previous month. Mr Foster, who appointed Mr Guildford in 2022, now faces the critical decision of his tenure, even as the Home Secretary has announced plans to abolish PCC roles altogether.
