The former Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, who authorised a controversial ban on supporters of an Israeli football team, has retired and been referred to the police watchdog for a misconduct investigation.
Retirement Under Pressure and IOPC Referral
Craig Guildford, 52, stepped down with a full pension on Friday, succumbing to intense pressure after being accused of misleading MPs and the public. The controversy stemmed from the decision to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a Europa Conference League match against Aston Villa at Villa Park on 6 November.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has now made a voluntary referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Mr Foster stated the matters had caused a "significant impact on public confidence" and were unacceptable, vowing to hold the force to account.
Leadership Fallout and Public Apology
The crisis led to a dramatic loss of confidence in Mr Guildford's leadership. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she had lost faith in him last Wednesday, though Mr Foster had declined to sack him. Following the retirement, Ms Mahmood stated Mr Guildford had "done the right thing" by stepping down.
In his first statement as Acting Chief Constable, Scott Green issued a "full and sincere apology" on behalf of the force. He acknowledged damning findings from the Chief Inspector of Constabulary and admitted the force's actions had damaged trust, particularly with Jewish communities locally, nationally, and internationally.
Accountability and Rebuilding Trust
Mr Foster has scheduled a public accountability board for Tuesday, 27 January, where he will question force leaders on a report about the fan ban. He emphasised that rebuilding community trust is an absolute priority.
In his retirement statement, Mr Guildford cited the "political and media frenzy" as detrimental to the force's work. Meanwhile, Gideon Falter of the Campaign Against Antisemitism criticised the force's leadership, calling for further departures and labelling the initial response as victim-blaming.
The scandal continues to unfold as the force attempts to navigate the serious reputational damage and restore its standing with all communities across the West Midlands.
