Labour MP Shabana Mahmood strongly criticized the chief constable of West Midlands Police, expressing a lack of confidence in his leadership. The Home Secretary condemned the decision to prevent Israeli football fans from attending a match in Birmingham last November, citing a “failure of leadership.” Mahmood announced new legislation enabling Home Secretaries to dismiss police chiefs, a power previously revoked by the Conservative government.
The review conducted by Chief Inspector of Policing, Sir Andy Cooke, was described as “damning” by Mahmood, leading her to withdraw her support for Chief Craig Guildford. The investigation revealed that the police force had manipulated evidence to support their decision to ban the fans, with Guildford providing inaccurate information to Members of Parliament.
The report highlighted that the police exaggerated the threat posed by Maccabi Tel Aviv fans while downplaying the risks faced by Israeli fans. It was discovered that the decision was made without engaging with the Jewish community in Birmingham. Despite claims of scapegoating from Birmingham Perry Barr MP Ayoub Khan, pressure mounted on Guildford to step down.
Guildford admitted to providing false information to MPs and attributed the error to Microsoft Co Pilot. The ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending the game was based on safety concerns raised by the local Safety Advisory Group, following advice from the police force. Guildford also apologized for erroneous details provided to the Home Affairs Select Committee, clarifying that the misinformation stemmed from an incorrect Google search.
The Home Secretary awaited the findings of the Chief Inspectorate’s report before making a formal statement in the House of Commons. The authority to dismiss Guildford rests with West Midlands police and crime commissioner Simon Foster, who pledged to review the decision-making process surrounding the fan ban.