In a dramatic turn of events, the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, Craig Guildford, has announced his retirement after facing intense pressure to resign over his handling of a ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending a Europa League match against Aston Villa.
The decision comes in the wake of a damning report by the Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Sir Andy Cooke, which found that Guildford had exaggerated evidence to justify the force’s decision to bar Israeli fans from attending the match on 6 November 2025. The report uncovered a catalogue of inaccuracies in the police’s report to the Birmingham Safety Advisory Group, including references to a non-existent game against West Ham and overstating the number of Dutch police officers deployed.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has described the findings as “damning”, stating that they “have harmed trust in West Midlands Police.” Addressing the House of Commons, Mahmood said there had been a “failure of leadership” and that she had “no confidence” in Guildford’s role.
The decision to ban the Maccabi Tel Aviv fans sparked widespread criticism, with the Campaign Against Antisemitism accusing the police of “lying and obfuscating, victim-blaming Jews instead of taking on the Islamists.” Reform UK’s head of policy, Zia Yusuf, also called for Guildford to be held accountable, saying he “should not be allowed to retire” and “should have been dismissed.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster initially resisted calls for Guildford’s resignation, but has now announced that the Chief Constable will be stepping down with immediate effect “in the best interests” of the force. This move has been welcomed by the Home Secretary, who said Guildford has “done the right thing.”
The controversy has highlighted the need for a major culture change within West Midlands Police, with Lord Walney, the government’s former anti-extremism adviser, warning that Guildford’s departure must be followed by a close examination of the force’s leadership to ensure a “major culture change” can begin.