Ex-chief constable investigated over Israeli fan ban - BBC News
West Midlands
By Eleanor Lawson
The former chief constable of West Midlands Police, Craig Guildford, is under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for gross misconduct related to the banning of Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a match against Aston Villa in November 2025.
The IOPC's inquiry, launched in January, focuses on the involvement of West Midlands Police officers in the match planning and preparation. The ban sparked national and international debate, with the government promising to overturn it.
According to the IOPC, evidence suggests that Guildford may have been responsible for an intelligence briefing document containing "inaccuracies and misleading information." The document allegedly presented an imbalanced view of the risks posed by away fans, influencing the decision to ban them.
The watchdog states:
We consider Mr Guildford may have failed to ensure due diligence and the highest level of scrutiny over such an influential document.
Three other individuals are also under investigation: a senior serving officer who compiled the briefing (for allegedly failing to ensure its accuracy), another serving officer (for displaying impartiality issues towards Maccabi fans), and a staff member (for sourcing inaccurate AI-generated information).
Guildford and the officers face allegations of misconduct related to the handling of sensitive intelligence, due diligence, and balanced representation in briefings.
This breaking news story is developing and will be updated soon.