Overview
- The Independent Office for Police Conduct said it will use its power of initiative to investigate West Midlands Police over the November decision that kept Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from Villa Park.
- PCC Simon Foster announced a voluntary referral concerning former chief constable Craig Guildford, while the force also self‑referred potential conduct matters tied to senior figures and the use of AI.
- Investigators will scrutinise the briefings and intelligence given to Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group, record‑keeping, fact‑checking processes, and claims about consultation with local Jewish representatives.
- Acting Chief Constable Scott Green issued an unreserved apology, acknowledged the force’s defensive response, and pledged full cooperation with oversight bodies and measures to rebuild community trust.
- An HMICFRS interim review had identified eight inaccuracies and confirmation bias, including a fictitious West Ham fixture generated by Microsoft Copilot, and the chief constable retired after the home secretary withdrew confidence.