A former senior police officer has revealed she explicitly warned her force against rehiring Chief Constable Craig Guildford, whom she labelled a 'massive a**e', long before his recent retirement over a major scandal.
A History of Warnings Ignored
Khizra Bano, who served for 22 years and was West Midlands Police's highest-ranking Asian female officer, took an employment tribunal action in 2024. She alleged harassment, victimisation, and unlawful discrimination by the chief constable.
Bano, a former policewoman of the year, stated she was treated differently after raising concerns about racism and misogyny within the force. She claims that just hours after Guildford retired in November 2024 over the Maccabi Tel Aviv scandal, she reminded superiors she had previously handed them a dossier of complaints about his conduct, which was ignored.
Guildford stepped down as chief constable on Friday after days of resisting widespread calls to quit. He had initially retired in November 2024 before being rehired a month later in a 'retire and rejoin' manoeuvre designed to protect his pension from devaluation after 30 years of service.
Allegations of Bullying and Intimidation
Bano objected to Guildford's reappointment and alleges she was followed by security at a policing panel meeting discussing his return. She says she was warned against speaking out and told she risked being 'caught in the crossfire' for supporting a colleague's case against the force, a claim the police deny.
The clash between Bano and Guildford reportedly peaked during a meeting where she accompanied a colleague. Bano alleges Guildford used 'bullying behaviour', was belligerent, and repeatedly questioned if she was 'actually a police officer'. Her retort was: 'Maybe they should have and you wouldn't be such a massive a**e'.
Following this, Guildford referred her conduct for investigation. Bano spent eight months under a misconduct probe before it was dropped on medical grounds. She retired soon after, claiming discrimination for raising 'uncomfortable truths'. Bano, who is autistic, later settled with the force for a six-figure sum on grounds of alleged victimisation and discrimination, though she withdrew claims for sex and race discrimination. The force settled without admitting liability.
Fallout and a Potential Legal Battle
Guildford's final departure follows a damning report which revealed evidence was fabricated and exaggerated to justify banning Israeli fans from an Aston Villa match in November 2023. He now faces a potential misconduct investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Despite the scandal, Labour Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Simon Foster allowed Guildford to retire with his full pension, praising his 'honour' and 'positive achievements'. This decision has led to condemnation and calls for Foster to also resign.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch stated a chief constable cannot 'bow to the demands of an Islamist mob and then mislead Parliament and stay in their job'. Gideon Falter of Campaign Against Antisemitism said the force 'lied and obfuscated, victim-blaming Jews'.
In a further twist, the Daily Mail reports Guildford is considering a constructive dismissal claim, potentially seeking a payout exceeding £600,000, as he had nearly three years left on his £288,700-a-year contract.
Reflecting on the saga, Bano said the force's reputation was badly damaged and Guildford should have stepped down earlier. West Midlands Police has been contacted for comment.
