The official responsible for deciding the future of West Midlands Chief Constable Craig Guildford has launched a fierce attack on MPs, accusing them of bias and pre-judging the outcome of an inquiry into the controversial ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans.
PCC Condemns 'Irresponsible' MP Conduct
Simon Foster, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), has criticised members of the Home Affairs Select Committee. He alleges they have been briefing journalists that Mr Guildford should be removed from his post, despite their inquiry into the November 2023 incident still being ongoing.
Mr Foster stated that an official from the committee has apologised after some MPs were reported to have already decided the Chief Constable and the force's guilt before hearing all evidence. He labelled the alleged statements from MPs as "irresponsible and reckless".
"This is deeply regrettable and a matter of the utmost seriousness, that risks compromising and undermining public trust and confidence in the integrity of the [committee] and its forthcoming report," Mr Foster said.
The Controversial Ban and Mounting Pressure
The controversy stems from a decision last November to ban supporters of Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending a Europa Conference League match against Aston Villa in Birmingham. West Midlands Police concluded there was a high risk of violence, an assessment that has been strongly disputed.
The force denies it reached its conclusions to appease extremists or that it caved into antisemitism. More immediately, findings from a separate inquiry ordered by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood are expected. His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has been examining how the force handled intelligence used to justify the ban.
Ms Mahmood will receive the HMIC report and must then decide if she retains confidence in Chief Constable Guildford. However, her aides accept she has no direct power to sack him; only the PCC, Simon Foster, holds that legal authority.
Political Fallout and Calls for Accountability
In a significant intervention, Mr Foster has called for the MPs involved to be named and removed from influencing the committee's final report. He has also demanded a public apology from the committee chair and for the MPs to refer themselves to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
Sources indicate the PCC maintains an open mind regarding Mr Guildford's fate. He intends to wait for the findings of both the HMIC and the Home Affairs Committee reports before making a decision, having previously praised the Chief Constable for cutting crime and improving the force.
The Independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, Ayoub Khan, has defended Mr Guildford, suggesting he is being used as a "scapegoat". Mr Khan claimed the Home Office was aware of the decision to ban fans before it was announced, making it "disingenuous" to now withdraw confidence.
"Politicians shouldn't get involved in operational matters. People see this as a witch-hunt," Mr Khan stated, warning that sacking the police chief would have a "chilling effect". The Home Affairs Committee has declined to comment on the PCC's allegations.
