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West Midlands Police Chief Craig Guildford Retires Following Fan Ban Findings

A watchdog found the force’s advice relied on inaccurate intelligence, including an AI hallucination.

Overview

  • Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster announced Guildford’s immediate retirement and named Deputy Chief Constable Scott Green as acting chief.
  • HMIC’s preliminary review cited eight inaccuracies and confirmation bias in advice used to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters, including a fictitious match generated by Microsoft Copilot.
  • Guildford apologized to MPs for giving erroneous evidence after initially denying AI was used and later acknowledged the AI source in a letter to Parliament.
  • Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she had no confidence in Guildford and has signaled plans to restore ministerial powers to dismiss chiefs, though dismissal authority currently rests with PCCs.
  • The IOPC said it will continue assessing whether to open conduct investigations, and reports indicate Guildford is expected to receive his full pension unless forfeiture criteria are met.