Former West Midlands Police chief faces gross misconduct probe over Maccabi fan ban
The IOPC has launched a misconduct investigation into ex-chief constable Craig Guildford and three officers over the Maccabi Tel Aviv supporter ban at Villa Park.
IOPC opens misconduct inquiry into ex-West Midlands chief over Maccabi supporter ban
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched a gross misconduct investigation into former West Midlands Police chief constable Craig Guildford and three other officers, following the controversy surrounding the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters attending a Europa League match in Birmingham, The Independent reports.
Supporters of the Israeli club were barred from travelling to Villa Park in November for their team's fixture against Aston Villa after West Midlands Police submitted a safety report to the Birmingham Safety Advisory Group containing eight significant errors. Among those errors were an overstatement of Maccabi fans' involvement in disorder in Amsterdam in 2024, and a reference to a non-existent match between Maccabi and West Ham — content that was reportedly generated using Microsoft Copilot.
The IOPC announced on Wednesday that Guildford is under investigation over allegations he failed to ensure due diligence was applied to that briefing document. Investigators allege he had oversight of the inaccurate report, which heavily influenced the eventual decision to prohibit the visiting supporters.
A second senior serving officer is being investigated for failing to verify the accuracy of the document, while a police staff member faces scrutiny for sourcing the incorrect details using AI. Two further officers involved in match planning face accusations of potential misconduct rather than gross misconduct.
One of the senior serving officers under investigation is additionally accused of failing to balance operational needs with adequate engagement with local Jewish communities, and of showing a lack of impartiality towards Maccabi supporters.
IOPC director of engagement Derrick Campbell said investigators had scrutinised operational files, intelligence summaries, meeting minutes, emails and other messaging platforms, and had interviewed witnesses and experts. "We have examined a wealth of material, hundreds of pieces of evidence, and believe there is an indication some people serving with the police may potentially have behaved in a manner that could justify disciplinary proceedings," Campbell said. "At the end of our investigation, we will decide if anyone has a case to answer and should face a misconduct meeting or hearing."
The fan ban drew sharp criticism from senior political figures. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described it as the "wrong decision", while Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood subsequently stated she had lost confidence in Guildford's leadership. Facing mounting pressure to step down, Guildford announced his retirement, attributing the circumstances to what he called a "political and media frenzy".
Source: The Independent