Overview
- His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Andy Cooke has submitted his review to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, with findings reported to be critical of West Midlands Police.
- The local Safety Advisory Group barred travelling Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in November on police advice citing safety risks, including intelligence that some locals planned to arm themselves.
- MPs challenged the accuracy of police accounts used to justify the ban, highlighting disputed claims about incidents in Amsterdam that Dutch authorities refuted and raising concerns Parliament was misled.
- Terrorism watchdog Jonathan Hall KC said the intelligence should have prompted a criminal investigation, potentially for stirring up racial hatred under the Public Order Act.
- Political pressure has escalated on Chief Constable Craig Guildford, with calls for his removal and a process available for the Home Secretary to withdraw confidence and ask the Police and Crime Commissioner to consider suspension or dismissal.