The Chief Constable of West Midlands Police has been forced to issue a humiliating second apology to a powerful committee of MPs, after conceding his force used artificial intelligence to help justify a ban on football fans – information he had previously denied.
A Second Apology and a Career in the Balance
Chief Constable Craig Guildford's professional fate now hangs in the balance as he admits providing "incorrect evidence" to the influential Home Affairs Select Committee. The apology was delivered in a letter on the same day Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood prepares to make a crucial statement to Parliament that could decide his future.
The controversy centres on a police report that supported banning supporters of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv from an away match against Aston Villa at Villa Park last November. The report included details of a supposed match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and West Ham United, which was later revealed to be completely fictitious.
The AI Tool and the 'Fake' Match
In his contrite letter to committee chair Dame Karen Bradley, Mr Guildford admitted the erroneous information "arose as a result of a use of Microsoft Co Pilot." The AI tool was used by officers researching previous European matches involving the Israeli club and cited the non-existent game.
This admission directly contradicts evidence he gave to MPs on two separate occasions. During his first appearance on 1 December 2025, he blamed "social media scraping." When pressed by MP Paul Kohler on whether an AI search was used, Mr Guildford replied, "No, not at all. We do a very comprehensive assessment."
During a second hearing on 6 January 2026, he was even more categorical, stating: "The summation... was that West Midlands Police may have used AI on this particular occasion. We do not use AI." He insisted an officer had simply performed a Google search after failing to find data in a specialist football intelligence system.
Political Fallout and Public Safety Claims
The initial decision to ban away fans for the 6 November 2025 match triggered a major political row, with accusations the move was politically influenced and potentially antisemitic. West Midlands Police have consistently defended the ban as a vital public safety measure to prevent potential mass disorder.
The match, policed by around 700 officers, proceeded without the away supporters and passed off without injury, although 11 arrests were made during related protests outside the stadium.
Mr Guildford's letter states he and Assistant Chief Constable Mike O'Hara only learned of the AI use on the Friday before writing the apology. He maintains his belief that a Google search was used was "honestly held" and there was "no intention to mislead the Committee." The Home Secretary's impending statement will now determine the next chapter in this escalating scandal.
