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West Midlands Police Chief Craig Guildford Retires After Watchdog's Fan-Ban Findings

The departure follows a watchdog finding exaggerated intelligence behind the Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban.

Overview

  • Police and crime commissioner Simon Foster announced Guildford’s immediate retirement and named Deputy Chief Constable Scott Green as acting chief.
  • His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary identified eight inaccuracies in the force’s advice to Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group, including an AI‑generated reference to a non‑existent match.
  • Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood had said she lost confidence in Guildford and has proposed giving ministers the power to dismiss police chiefs directly.
  • The Independent Office for Police Conduct said it will keep assessing whether to open independent conduct investigations, which can proceed after retirement.
  • Multiple outlets reported Guildford will receive a full pension, prompting further criticism and renewed calls for accountability from political and community figures.