Amid growing tensions, the chief constable of West Midlands Police, Craig Guildford, may face dismissal this week. A pivotal report concerning the uproar over Maccabi Tel Aviv fans is soon to be delivered to the Home Secretary, potentially sealing Guildford’s fate.
The controversy stems from Guildford’s decision to ban Israeli fans from attending an Aston Villa match last year. This decision has been heavily criticized by senior Tory members, who demand his removal. They argue that Guildford relied on misleading intelligence about the alleged hooliganism associated with Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters. Furthermore, accusations have emerged that he ignored warnings about potential threats from Birmingham’s Muslim community, who were allegedly planning to confront the visiting fans.
Among those urging action is Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservative Party. She has openly criticized Guildford’s actions, claiming that the police force “capitulated to Islamists.” Her calls for his removal have added to the mounting pressure on Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to take decisive steps.
The decisive moment approaches as Sir Andy Cooke, the chief inspector of constabulary, is set to present his investigative findings to the Home Secretary. Commissioned to examine the decision-making process of West Midlands Police, Cooke’s report is anticipated to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the ban. Mahmood is expected to reveal these findings to Parliament, potentially leading to major consequences for Guildford.
His fate could be decided this week when the findings of an investigation by the chief inspector of constabulary, Sir Andy Cooke, are presented to Ms Mahmood.
He was asked by the Home Secretary to produce a report into how West Midlands Police reached the decision, the conclusions of which she is expected to share with Parliament.
Sir Andy will this week provide an expedited version of a wider report which is due to be published later in the year.
It comes amid mounting revelations about the force’s handling of the affair, with police logs obtained by The Telegraph this weekend showing officers recorded gangs of ‘Asian youths looking for a fight’ heading to the Villa Park hours before the Europa League fixture.
Around this exact time, Ch Supt Tom Joyce was blaming Maccabi fans for the ban during an appearance on Sky News, saying it was a decision taken ‘exclusively’ because of their hooliganism.
This has continued to be the force’s position, despite the ban being announced in the wake of a vocal campaign in Birmingham by pro-Gaza independent MP Ayoub Khan and local Muslim activists.
Pressure is mounting for Craig Guildford, the chief constable of West Midlands Police (WMP), to be sacked over the banning Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending an Aston Villa match
Fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv (pictured) were banned from their Europa League fixture at Villa Park on November 6
Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick wrote in The Telegraph: ‘Police can no longer sustain their authority in parts of Britain and have to lie to preserve the illusion.’
West Midlands Police declined to comment on the police logs.
The decision to ban Maccabi fans was taken in November by the city’s Safety Advisory Group – including the council, police and other local bodies – but sources close to the discussions insist it was a move entirely driven by West Midlands Police.
Last week Mr Guildford was forced to apologise for misleading MPs when he gave evidence about the controversy in Parliament, after initially claiming the ban was supported by members of the Jewish community, which turned out to be incorrect.
Documents released last week also showed the force was warned that locals in the majority Muslim community had planned to ‘arm’ themselves if Maccabi fans showed up – evidence that Mr Guildford has been accused of ‘hiding’.
Gathered intelligence also showed ‘local hostility towards the visitors based on their nationality’.
Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside Villa Park before the game on November 6
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch was among the voices calling for Craig Guildford (pictured second from the right) to step down or be removed
Pressure on Mr Guildford continued to intensify after it emerged that a controversial Birmingham mosque which supported the ban was also represented on the panel that appointed the chief constable three years ago, according to The Sunday Times.
Speakers at Green Lane mosque have espoused views including that men could physically discipline their wives as a ‘last resort’ and that women should not leave the house without permission from their husband. The mosque claims the sermon was taken out of context.
Simon Foster, the West Midlands police and crime commissioner, told the newspaper that Mr Guildford’s appointment followed ‘an extensive and wide-ranging process’ in which the chief executive of Green Lane mosque was one person out of 53 involved in the appointment panels process.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: ‘The government has been clear throughout that we disagreed with the decision to ban away fans from the match in November. We should not be a country where we tell people to stay away from certain events because we cannot protect them, or they may be a victim of racism.
‘That is why the home secretary asked His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services to investigate how the decision was reached. We cannot comment further until the home secretary has received the chief inspector’s findings and considered them.’
