Former West Midlands Police chief constable Craig Guildford is facing gross misconduct proceedings over an inaccurate report that led to a ban on supporters of the Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending a Europa League match. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) announced Tuesday that Guildford, who retired in January, and other police staff members are under investigation for their roles in preparing the flawed intelligence briefing.
The report, allegedly compiled using artificial intelligence, contained at least eight errors and contributed to the decision by Birmingham City Council's safety advisory group to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from traveling to a game against Aston Villa at Villa Park in November. The inaccuracies included overstating the involvement of Maccabi supporters in disorder in Amsterdam in 2024 and referencing a non-existent match between Maccabi and West Ham.
The IOPC stated that evidence suggests Guildford may have overseen the intelligence briefing document presented to the safety advisory group, which allegedly presented an imbalanced view of the risk posed by away fans. This biased assessment is believed to have influenced the final decision to ban the supporters.
The decision to ban the fans ignited a significant political controversy, with West Midlands Police accused of succumbing to pressure from local Islamist activists and politically motivated councilors. The ban also drew criticism from national political figures, including then-Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who deemed it the "wrong decision."
Following the fallout, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed a loss of confidence in Guildford's leadership, leading to his retirement in January amidst what he described as a "political and media frenzy."
In addition to Guildford, another officer and a staff member are being investigated for potential gross misconduct. Two other serving officers involved in the force's planning for the game face accusations of misconduct. The staff member is alleged to have sourced inaccurate information from AI searches without verifying its accuracy before it was included in briefings. One senior officer is accused of insufficient diligence in overseeing the operation and of demonstrating a lack of impartiality towards Maccabi fans. The other is being investigated for oversight of the briefing document and for a similar lack of balance in references to the supporters.
Derrick Campbell, IOPC director of engagement, stated that the watchdog has examined over 600 pieces of evidence, including operational documents, reports, intelligence research, meeting minutes, and extensive correspondence. He indicated that there is sufficient evidence to suggest that some individuals may have breached professional conduct standards and could face disciplinary proceedings.
A report by the Home Affairs Committee earlier this year also suggested that political pressure might have influenced the decision to ban the Israeli fans. The IOPC will determine at the conclusion of its investigation whether any individuals have cases to answer at a misconduct meeting or hearing.