The future of West Midlands Police's most senior officer is set to be decided this afternoon, with a major announcement expected from the region's Police and Crime Commissioner.
PCC to Make Crucial Announcement
Simon Foster, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), will make a formal statement to the media at 4pm today, Thursday 16 January 2026. The statement is widely anticipated to confirm whether Chief Constable Craig Guildford will remain in his post or be removed.
Mr Foster holds the sole statutory power to hire or fire the chief constable. This follows intense pressure on Mr Guildford after a highly critical report was published concerning his force's handling of a controversial football fan ban.
Damning Report and Political Fallout
The crisis stems from an incident in November of last year, when West Midlands Police banned supporters of Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending a match against Aston Villa. A subsequent inspection report by Sir Andy Cooke, the Chief Inspector of Constabulary, uncovered serious failings.
The report concluded that the force had overstated the threat posed by the visiting fans while simultaneously understating the risks to those fans if they travelled. Inspectors identified a "confirmation bias" in the police's approach.
Furthermore, the force was found to have "misled parliament" on two occasions, including by denying the use of AI to gather evidence when it had in fact done so. MPs have accused the force of retrospectively gathering intelligence to justify the initial ban decision.
The political pressure escalated earlier this week when Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated in the House of Commons that she had 'no confidence' in Chief Constable Guildford. This led to widespread expectation that he would be fired or resign, creating a two-day impasse ahead of today's scheduled announcement.
What Happens Next?
All eyes are now on Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster's 4pm statement. His decision will determine the leadership of one of the UK's largest police forces during a period of significant scrutiny.
The outcome will have major implications for public confidence and the force's operational integrity. The statement is expected to provide clarity on whether Chief Constable Craig Guildford will continue in his role or if the search for a new chief will begin immediately.
