Police Chief Who Banned Israeli Soccer Fans Quits

UK police chief quits over ban on Israeli soccer fans

UK police chief Craig Guildford resigns after a report found West Midlands Police used “greatly exaggerated" intelligence to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans.

The chief constable of England’s second-largest police force has stepped down after an official inquiry found that West Midlands Police relied on “greatly exaggerated" intelligence to justify banning fans of Israeli soccer club Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending a Europa League match in Birmingham.

Craig Guildford retired with immediate effect on Friday, two days after a damning report prompted Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to announce she had lost confidence in him. Since Mahmood has no legal authority to remove him, Guildford initially believed he could remain in office until Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster made a decision - a process expected to take at least 10 days.

However, continued criticism from cabinet ministers, signals from Downing Street that Prime Minister Keir Starmer had also lost confidence in him, and warnings from fellow police chiefs that his refusal to resign risked damaging the force nationally ultimately led to his departure. One senior policing source described him as a “dead man walking."

Guildford, who earned £220,000 a year will retire on a full pension. A deal for his exit was finalized Friday with Foster’s agreement, avoiding a potential legal battle.

The controversy began when West Midlands Police advised Birmingham’s safety advisory group in October that Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters were too dangerous to attend the November 6 match against Aston Villa. The intelligence case later unraveled.

The report also revealed that West Midlands Police had relied heavily on information from Dutch authorities, claiming Maccabi fans were responsible for violence at a 2024 match in Amsterdam. Really the violence came from pro-Palestinian Arab supporters.

Jewish groups, including Campaign Against Antisemitism and the Board of Deputies of British Jews, welcomed Guildford’s departure. The Board said it would work with his successor “to restore confidence."

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/421023

Lies that led to ban on Israeli football fans lead to Police Chief quitting.

Police chief Craig Guildford retired yesterday following the Maccabi Tel Aviv fiasco.

The West Midlands chief constable was allowed to depart with his full pension.

The senior officer is seeking a ‘significant payout’ as he had almost three years left on his contract worth a total of £288,700 a year, including a salary of £215,300.

But the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) last night raised the prospect that Mr Guildford could face a misconduct investigation.

The watchdog is examining a report by Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Andy Cooke, which revealed how evidence was fabricated and exaggerated by police to justify a ban on Israeli fans attending the Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv game in Birmingham in November last year.

     The Chief

     Pally Rioters before the game

 ‘We have been examining a wealth of evidence, and we have met with [the Inspectorate of Constabulary] to request additional material. 

‘If there is any indication of misconduct, we will act.’

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has formally complained to the watchdog, saying Mr Guildford’s actions in relation to the match may ‘amount to gross misconduct’. 

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: ‘A chief constable cannot bow to the demands of an Islamist mob and then mislead Parliament and stay in their job.

Ms Mahmood said: ‘The findings of the chief inspector were damning. They set out a catalogue of failings that have harmed trust in West Midlands Police.

Gavin Stephens, head of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, acknowledged that the row had damaged policing, saying: ‘We absolutely recognise the observations of the Inspectorate and the views in Parliament and elsewhere have been really serious and damaging for policing.’

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15471683/Police-chief-quit-ban-Irsaeli-football-sue-constructive-dismissal-retirement.html