Watchdog investigates West Midlands Police over Israeli fan ban

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into West Midlands Police (WMP).

It follows the retirement of Chief Constable Craig Guildford over the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending a Europa League match against Aston Villa, last November.

The IOPC said it had received new information in the past 24 hours and had used its “power of initiative” to call-in the matter and independently investigate.

Guildford’s retirement came after he admitted inaccuracies in evidence to a Commons committee, including a denial the force had used AI to research evidence including a non-existent match between the Israeli club and West Ham.

The IOPC is to now assess whether WMP officers and staff have cases to answer for misconduct.

Acting Chief Constable Scott Green, who was appointed on Friday, has apologised on behalf of WMP, accepting the public’s trust in the force and its relationship with Birmingham’s Jewish community have both been damaged.

Guildford has also been referred to the IOPC by West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Simon Foster, who said the matter had “had a significant impact on public confidence”.

IOPC director general Rachel Watson said the watchdog had received new information from WMP around the initial assessment of any potential misconduct.

“There are many unanswered questions and it’s right for accountability and public confidence for us to independently investigate,” she said.

“We will now undertake a full assessment of the evidence, and gather more where necessary, to establish if any of the officers may have breached police professional standards in relation to duties and responsibilities.”

She also said the IOPC had requested more evidence from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

The inspectorate issued its own initial findings last week, prompting Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to state she had lost confidence in Guildford.

Watson added: “Our investigation will examine the briefings and intelligence report provided to the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) which underpinned the decision to ban supporters.

“HMICFRS found it contained inaccuracies. We will go beyond that to understand who was involved in its preparation, how information was obtained, and what checks were in place.

“It was incumbent on those preparing and delivering the report to ensure its veracity and that reasonable efforts be made to ensure it was accurate.”

She also said the investigation would consider the record keeping, or lack of it, by individual officers and the assertion in briefing documents to the SAG that local representatives of the Jewish community in Birmingham had been consulted.

Watson confirmed the IOPC had also received a voluntary conduct referral from West Midlands Police relating to one senior police officer and a staff member over the force’s use of AI.

Green isssued a statement earlier to apologise on behalf of WMP, calling the failings identified by HMICFRS as damning.

“A direct impact of our actions has been a loss of trust and confidence from the public of the West Midlands and more broadly,” he said.

“More specifically, I know we have damaged our relationship with individuals and Jewish communities – locally, nationally, and internationally.

“We have damaged our relationship with communities and many others are feeling disappointed in their police force.

“Our response to criticisms of the force, and our reaction to the home secretary’s statement to parliament on Wednesday was too defensive and not acceptable. I reiterate again my unreserved apology for the damage that we have caused.”

In a statement, Foster said: “These matters have had a significant impact on public confidence, and the confidence of particular communities in the West Midlands. This is unacceptable.”

“The force know that I expect them to comply with the very highest standards of conduct at all times.”

The commissioner has also faced calls to resign over his decision not to sack Guildford.

Before the latest announcements, Stephen Silverman, from the Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “The police and crime commissioner prevaricated, procrastinated, refused to get rid of Mr Guildford when it was quite clear that that was the only route possible.”

The campaign’s chief executive, Gideon Falter, added the decision was a “pitiful failure” from Foster.

Announcing his retirement on Friday, Guildford, 52, did not offer an apology and blamed what he described as the “political and media frenzy” for his decision to step down.

“I have carefully considered my position and concluded that retirement is in the best interests of the organisation, myself and my family,” he said.

“It has been the honour of my career serving as the chief constable of West Midlands Police.”