Overview
- The HMIC interim review found confirmation bias in West Midlands Police’s approach, saying the force overstated the threat from Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters and understated risks to those supporters.
- Inspectors identified eight inaccuracies in the police report to the Safety Advisory Group, including a fictitious West Ham–Maccabi match traced to a Microsoft Copilot AI ‘hallucination’.
- Chief Constable Craig Guildford apologized for giving erroneous evidence to MPs and acknowledged the AI-generated error after previously denying AI was used.
- Shabana Mahmood declared she has no confidence in Guildford and outlined plans for new statutory powers to remove underperforming chiefs, though dismissal authority currently lies with the PCC.
- PCC Simon Foster said he will review the findings at a public accountability session on January 27; the November 6 match went ahead without away fans under heavy policing, with 11 arrests during protests.