London (Parliament Politics Magazine) January 14, 2026 – Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has declared she has no confidence in West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford following a police watchdog review into the force’s decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans from a match. The review highlighted confirmation bias in the ban imposed ahead of the November fixture at Villa Park. Guildford issued an apology to MPs earlier on Wednesday for providing erroneous evidence, attributing it to AI usage.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood informed Members of Parliament that a review by a police watchdog into West Midlands Police’s handling of the Maccabi Tel Aviv supporter ban revealed confirmation bias. The force had prohibited Israeli fans from attending the Aston Villa match at Villa Park in November due to stated safety concerns.
Ms Mahmood expressed frustration over her inability to dismiss the chief constable directly, as such powers now reside with police and crime commissioners.
Chief Constable Craig Guildford apologised to MPs on Wednesday for submitting erroneous evidence regarding the ban decision, blaming the use of artificial intelligence. The apology followed two appearances by senior officers before the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee. The decision to impose the ban prompted widespread outcry, including concern from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Watchdog Review Exposes Confirmation Bias in Fan Ban Decision
The police watchdog’s assessment, described as damning by Ms Mahmood, confirmed confirmation bias influenced West Midlands Police’s rationale for barring Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters. As reported by Sky News political editor Jon Craig, the review scrutinised the force’s threat assessment process leading to the October announcement of the ban. The match, part of the UEFA Europa League, saw Aston Villa host the Israeli club without away fans present.
Ms Mahmood told MPs during Home Office questions that the findings undermined public trust in the force’s decision-making. She noted the ban stemmed from intelligence suggesting potential disorder linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict. However, the review faulted the force for selective evidence interpretation, as detailed in coverage by BBC News home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford.
Journalists covering the Commons session reported real-time details of Ms Mahmood’s statement. Steven Swinford said in X post,
“BREAKING Shabana Mahmood declares that she has lost confidence in Craig Guildford, the West Midlands chief constable, over the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans She says that there has been a failure of leadership and that ultimate responsibility rests with Guildford She says the HMIC report into the decision by West Midlands police to ban Israeli fans is ‘damning’ She says there was ‘little engagement’ with the Jewish community.
Intelligence used to justify the ban was exaggerated or simply untrue The report also highlights misleading public statements from West Midlands police, and that extends to the chief constable himself Mahmood: ‘On an issue of huge significance we have witnessed a failure of leadership that has harmed its reputation and eroded public confidence more widely.’”
BREAKING
Shabana Mahmood declares that she has lost confidence in Craig Guildford, the West Midlands chief constable, over the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans
She says that there has been a failure of leadership and that ultimate responsibility rests with Guildford
She says the…
— Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) January 14, 2026
The Home Secretary highlighted ongoing government plans to introduce statutory powers enabling her to compel chief constables’ resignation based on performance grounds. These measures target the scrapping of police and crime commissioners, restoring direct oversight to the Home Office.
Chief Constable Guildford Apologises for Erroneous Evidence to MPs
Earlier on Wednesday, Chief Constable Guildford faced the Home Affairs Select Committee and apologised unreservedly for providing erroneous evidence about the Maccabi ban. As reported by Sky News chief correspondent Tom Rayner, Guildford attributed inaccuracies in his testimony to reliance on AI-generated summaries of internal documents. He committed to halting such practices within the force pending new guidelines.
Guildford reiterated regret over the episode, stating it fell short of expected standards. The committee had summoned senior West Midlands officers twice to address concerns over the ban’s proportionality and evidence base. Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council jointly called for Guildford’s resignation following his initial appearance, according to The Guardian’s Nazia Parveen.
The apology letter from Guildford, submitted to the committee chair, outlined steps to enhance evidence-handling protocols. He pledged an internal audit of AI tools in operational reporting, as noted by The Telegraph’s political correspondent Ben Riley-Smith.
Commentators reacted swiftly to Ms Mahmood’s declaration on social media. Lee Harris said in X post,
“🚨NEW: Shabana Mahmood says there has been a ‘failure of leadership’ at West Midlands police. She declared that she has ‘no confidence’ in chief constable Craig Guildford, but says she can’t dismiss him. This is painful to watch. Just SACK HIM!”
🚨NEW: Shabana Mahmood says there has been a ‘failure of leadership’ at West Midlands police.
She declared that she has ‘no confidence’ in chief constable Craig Guildford, but says she can’t dismiss him.
This is painful to watch.
Just SACK HIM! pic.twitter.com/u5mFLYg4cw— Lee Harris (@LeeHarris) January 14, 2026
Political and Community Backlash to the Fan Ban
The October announcement barring Maccabi Tel Aviv fans drew immediate criticism from political figures and Jewish community leaders. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer voiced concern in Parliament, questioning the ban’s necessity given standard security for high-risk fixtures. As reported by ITV News Westminster editor Robert Peston, the Premier urged a full review of policing approaches to international matches.
The Community Security Trust documented a spike in antisemitic incidents around the fixture date, though unrelated to the ban itself. West Midlands Police maintained the decision prioritised venue safety amid threats received. Aston Villa issued a statement supporting the measure while facilitating fan travel alternatives.
Ms Mahmood linked the saga to broader policing accountability debates during her Commons statement. She affirmed government commitment to tackling perceived biases in threat assessments involving minority communities.
Historical Context of Policing Controversies at Villa Park
West Midlands Police has policed Villa Park matches for decades, managing occasional fan disorder during European ties. The Maccabi fixture marked the first blanket ban on an away support since 2019 UEFA regulations tightened on high-risk games. Previous incidents involved clashes at Aston Villa’s 2023 Europa Conference League matches against Legia Warsaw supporters.
Guildford assumed the chief constable role in 2022, overseeing operations amid post-pandemic fan returns. His tenure faced scrutiny over response to 2024 summer riots in Birmingham. The force received a positive HMICFRS inspection rating in 2025 for public order policing.
The ban decision aligned with consultations with the Football Association and UEFA safety officers. Internal force logs, later released, cited 17 specific intelligence reports on potential extremism risks.
Government Reforms to Police Oversight Powers
Ms Mahmood outlined legislative proposals in the forthcoming Policing Bill to empower Home Secretaries with direct intervention rights. These include performance-based dismissal mechanisms replacing elected commissioners. The reforms follow a 2025 Home Office review recommending centralised accountability.
Police and crime commissioners, introduced in 2012, currently hold hiring and firing authority over chief constables. Labour’s manifesto pledged their abolition to streamline national standards. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticised the plans as undermining local democracy, per Sky News analysis by deputy political editor Mhari Aurora.
Guildford welcomed the proposed powers, stating they would foster consistent professional standards. West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker declined immediate comment on Guildford’s position.
Broader Implications for UK Policing and Football Security
The episode underscores tensions between operational autonomy and political oversight in UK policing. Similar fan bans occurred at Celtic-Rangers derbies, though without comparable backlash. UEFA guidelines permit home-only crowds for extreme risks, a threshold West Midlands deemed met here.
Jewish community groups welcomed Ms Mahmood’s statement as signalling zero tolerance for flawed decisions. The Board of Deputies reiterated calls for Guildford’s exit, citing eroded confidence. Campaign Against Antisemitism echoed demands for accountability.
Guildford faces no formal disciplinary action pending further review. West Midlands Police announced enhanced training on bias awareness for intelligence units. The force anticipates no impact on routine Villa Park operations ahead of Premier League fixtures.
Ms Mahmood concluded her remarks by stressing public safety imperatives in all policing choices. The Home Office confirmed ongoing monitoring of the force’s implementation of watchdog recommendations.