RETIRED Chief constable Craig Guildford has been referred to the police watchdog.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster made the move after his decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans from attending a match against Aston Villa last November.
West Midlands Police referred Craig Guildford to the IOPCCredit: PA
The disgraced police chief stood down last weekCredit: PA
Outrage was sparked after the disgraced police chief, rather than be sacked, over the botched ban.
Mr Guildford stood down last week as head of Police – a move that will allow him to collect his full pension after 32 years’ service.
This is despite a watchdog finding his force used “exaggerated and untrue” intelligence to justify blocking the Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters.
And Home Secretary declared she had lost confidence in him, branding the report into the scandal “damning”.
But Ms Mahmood could not fire him – with that power resting solely with Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster.
In a statement last week, Mr Foster said: “The Chief Constable Craig Guildford has today retired from West Midlands Police with immediate effect.
“In doing so, he has acted with honour and in the best interests of West Midlands Police and our region, I welcome his decision.”
Mr Guildford had hoped to stay until at least January 27, when the Police and Crime Commissioner was due to haul him in for questioning.
But public outcry and bombshell evidence made his position untenable.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “The findings of the Chief Inspector were damning. They set out a catalogue of failings that have harmed trust in West Midlands Police.
“By stepping down, Craig Guildford has done the right thing today.
“I would like to acknowledge his years of service. And I pay tribute to the work of the officers in West Midlands Police, who keep their community safe every day.
“Today marks a crucial first step to rebuilding trust and confidence in the force amongst all the communities they serve.”
A scathing report by Sir Andy Cooke, His Majesty’s chief inspector of constabulary, found the force had fabricated and retrofitted misleading intelligence, given false statements about Israeli fans, overstated claims of disorder abroad and failed to properly engage with the Jewish community.
A ‘Ban Hatred’ advert was driven around Birmingham before the matchCredit: Getty
Maccabi fans at a game in Amsterdam, in November 2024, were falsely branded ‘thugs’Credit: AFP
Guildford tried to hold on to his position despite the outcryCredit: PA
Officers wrongly claimed Maccabi fans had thrown people into a river, that 5,000 Dutch police were deployed at a fixture, and that hundreds of supporters had links to the IDF – none of which was supported by evidence.
Sir Andy said the force showed confirmation bias, inflating isolated incidents into claims that Israeli fans targeted entire Muslim communities.
The scandal deepened when Guildford admitted his officers had used AI-generated misinformation, including bogus posts about a non-existent Maccabi Tel Aviv vs match, to justify the ban.
He had repeatedly refused to resign, defying calls from the regional mayor and Birmingham’s council leader.
Shadow Home Secretary said: “Craig Guildford’s move to retire is simply not good enough.
“He should now face gross misconduct proceedings through an Indepdent Office for Police Conduct investigation – which can continue even after retirement or resignation.
“I will now be writing to the IOPC to call for this.”
‘s Head of Policy Zia Yusuf echoed Mr Philp’s comments, saying: “Craig Guildford should not be allowed to retire as West Midlands Police Chief, he should be held accountable for his actions.
“He should have been dismissed following his abhorrent decision to ban fans from attending the Maccabi Tel Aviv match against last year.”
He added: “We must not allow Islamists, thugs, or terrorists to believe they can dictate what happens on our streets.”
Retired Chief constable Craig GuildfordCredit: AFP
More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online
is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun .
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
