The former chief constable of West Midlands Police has retired with immediate effect amid a major controversy surrounding the decision to ban fans of an Israeli football team from a match at Villa Park. Craig Guildford, 52, stepped down on Friday, January 17, 2026, but remains under the scrutiny of the police watchdog.
Retirement Amid "Political and Media Frenzy"
Announcing his departure, Mr Guildford stated that the intense focus on his position had become detrimental to the force's work. He cited a "political and media frenzy" as the reason for his decision to retire. West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster, who had the authority to dismiss the chief constable but chose not to, confirmed the retirement and indicated Mr Guildford is expected to receive his full pension.
Mr Foster described the outcome as preventing a complex and costly disciplinary procedure. He acknowledged the force had faced "intense and significant oversight" following the events that led to the safety advisory group's (SAG) recommendation to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from the Europa League match on November 6.
Watchdog Probe Continues Despite Retirement
Despite his retirement, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has confirmed its investigation into the fan ban decision will proceed. IOPC Director General Rachel Watson emphasised that their interest in Mr Guildford's actions, and those of other officers involved, does not end with his resignation.
She stated the IOPC is prepared to use its powers to launch an independent conduct investigation if the evidence warrants it. This follows a damning review ordered by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, which found eight serious inaccuracies in the police report used to advise the SAG.
A Catalogue of Failings and Inaccurate Evidence
The review, conducted by Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Andy Cooke, revealed critical errors in the force's submission. These included a reference to a non-existent match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and West Ham United, which was later identified as an "AI hallucination" generated by Microsoft Copilot.
Other inaccuracies involved overstating police deployments in Amsterdam, incorrectly linking fans to the Israeli Defence Forces, and falsely claiming Muslim communities had been targeted. Home Secretary Mahmood said the report revealed a "failure of leadership" and "confirmation bias," which had harmed trust in the police and let down the Jewish community.
Mr Guildford had previously apologised for giving incorrect evidence to the Home Affairs Committee, stating it was never his intention to mislead MPs. The review concluded there was no evidence antisemitism motivated the ban, but identified an "imbalance" in the information used.
Political Fallout and Calls for Further Resignations
The retirement has sparked significant political reaction. While the Home Secretary said Mr Guildford had "done the right thing," others criticised the outcome. The Campaign Against Antisemitism called for PCC Simon Foster to resign for failing to sack the chief constable.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp labelled Mr Foster "too weak to act" and said retirement was "simply not good enough." Both he and the Liberal Democrats have pressed for a full IOPC probe. Meanwhile, independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, Ayoub Khan, warned the episode could have a "chilling effect" on public sector workers.
Deputy Chief Constable Scott Green has been appointed as the acting chief constable as the force seeks to rebuild public trust. The controversy continues to cast a long shadow over West Midlands Police, with accountability and the results of the ongoing watchdog investigation still pending.
