Birmingham (Parliament Politics Magazine) January 14, 2026 – West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford has admitted misleading MPs by citing a fictitious football match generated by Microsoft Copilot in an intelligence report justifying a fan ban. The error involved a fabricated West Ham versus Maccabi Tel Aviv game listed as occurring on November 9, 2023. Guildford offered a profound apology to the Home Affairs Committee, revealing the AI tool’s role only after internal review.
Guildford disclosed the admission in a letter to Dame Karen Bradley, chairman of the Home Affairs Committee. The report had inaccurately claimed Maccabi Tel Aviv played in the UK as part of the Europa Conference League on that date, despite the team competing elsewhere.
Details of Guildford’s Letter to Home Affairs Committee
In a letter to Dame Karen Bradley, the Home Affairs Committee chairman, Guildford said he became aware on Friday that the fictional match had been inaccurately included in an intelligence report. The report incorrectly stated that Maccabi last played a match in the UK as part of the Europa Conference League on Nov 9 2023, despite the fact they were playing another game on that date.
Guildford wrote:
“In preparation for the force response to the [HM Inspectorate] inquiry into this matter, on Friday afternoon, I became aware that the erroneous result concerning the West Ham v Maccabi Tel Aviv match arose as a result of the use of Microsoft Copilot.
“Both Asst Chief Constable [Mike] O’Hara and I had – up until Friday afternoon – understood that the West Ham match had only been identified through the use of Google. This will be further explained in the additional material being provided to the committee. “I would like to offer my profound apology to the committee for this error, both on behalf of myself and that of O’Hara. I had understood and been advised that the match had been identified by way of a Google search in preparation for attending [the Home Affairs Committee].
“My belief that this was the case was honestly held and there was no intention to mislead the committee.”
Journalist Gabriel Pogrund broke the story on the admission in an X post,
“BREAK: West Mids police chief constable Craig Guildford offers “profound apology” and admits that fictitious Maccabi/West Ham match included in police “intelligence” used to justify ban was generated by AI. Guildford said the opposite to MPs.”
BREAK: West Mids police chief constable Craig Guildford offers “profound apology” and admits that fictitious Maccabi/West Ham match included in police “intelligence” used to justify ban ***was*** generated by AI.
Guildford said the opposite to MPs. pic.twitter.com/Ju7ge7P9JN
— Gabriel Pogrund (@Gabriel_Pogrund) January 14, 2026
Role of Microsoft Copilot in the Intelligence Error
Copilot is a Microsoft AI system that can be used to answer questions, analyse documents, and help draft reports and emails. The system is based on ChatGPT, the popular AI bot, and is included with Microsoft software such as Word and Outlook, meaning it is widely used in public services. In 2024, Microsoft announced a five-year deal with the Government, which it claimed would improve civil servants’ productivity.
The fictitious match was used to justify the decision to exclude Maccabi supporters from the Europa League game in November. Guildford previously denied to MPs that his force had used the AI system to search the internet. Speaking to the select committee on Dec 1, Paul Kohler asked him:
“So you did an AI search, got something about West Ham and just whacked it into the…?”
Guildford replied:
“No, not at all. We do a very comprehensive assessment.”
Context of the Maccabi Tel Aviv Fan Ban Decision
West Midlands Police produced the intelligence report ahead of a Europa League match involving Maccabi Tel Aviv fans travelling to the region. Authorities imposed restrictions excluding supporters due to assessed risks, citing prior incidents and travel patterns. The erroneous data contributed to the rationale for denying coach access and implementing travel bans.
The November 2023 fixture became central to parliamentary scrutiny when MPs questioned the sourcing of threat assessments. Guildford and Assistant Chief Constable Mike O’Hara initially attributed findings to manual Google searches during committee evidence.
Alex Armstrong commented on calls for accountability in an X post,
“NEW: West Midlands police admit to using Microsoft Co-Pilot Ai in their report to MPs, which created a fake match used to ban Israeli fans. Now Craig Guildford the West Mids police chief is accused of misleading parliament. How has this man not resigned in disgrace yet?”
NEW:
West Midlands police admit to using Microsoft Co-Pilot Ai in their report to MPs, which created a fake match used to ban Israeli fans.
Now Craig Guildford the West Mids police chief is accused of misleading parliament.
How has this man not resigned in disgrace yet? pic.twitter.com/T2T66JXLZq
— Alex Armstrong (@Alexarmstrong) January 14, 2026
Timeline of Events and Committee Interactions
- November 2023: Fictitious West Ham v Maccabi Tel Aviv match cited in intelligence report to support fan exclusion.
- December 1, 2025: Guildford denies AI use before Home Affairs Committee, claims Google search origin.
- Friday, January 10, 2026: Guildford learns of Copilot involvement during HM Inspectorate preparations.
- January 14, 2026: Letter sent to Dame Karen Bradley with apology and clarification.
These steps trace the progression from report compilation to admission.
Opposition Demands Action Over Police Chief Misleading MPs on AI Ban
As reported by Charles Hymas and Martin Evans of The Telegraph, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has called on Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to use her authority to dismiss West Midlands Police Chief Craig Guildford.
“Shabana Mahmood’s continued dithering is weak and unacceptable. Craig Guildford has now admitted to misleading Parliament,”
he said.
“We already know the force he leads covered up the threat posed by Islamist extremists and instead fabricated evidence against the Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters as a pretext for banning them. This is shameful and he should be fired.”
“The Home Secretary also knew about this scandal in advance. She must now urgently come to Parliament and explain why she did nothing to try to stop it happening. The Home Secretary shares responsibility for this,”
he added.
Implications for Police Use of AI Tools
Guildford’s revelation highlights integration of generative AI within UK policing. Microsoft Copilot’s deployment follows government-wide adoption for efficiency gains. The incident prompts review of verification protocols for AI outputs in operational intelligence.
HM Inspectorate of Constabulary initiated inquiry into the force’s handling of the matter. Additional materials accompany Guildford’s letter, detailing O’Hara’s parallel understanding.
Background on West Midlands Police Operations
West Midlands Police covers Birmingham and the surrounding areas, managing major events including European football ties. The force assessed Maccabi Tel Aviv fan movements amid regional tensions. Exclusion measures prevented coach entry, redirecting supporters via alternative routes.
Chief Constable Guildford assumed leadership in 2022, overseeing digital transformation initiatives. Copilot forms part of broader tech upgrades, including predictive analytics and report automation.
Parliamentary Scrutiny and Home Affairs Committee Role
The Home Affairs Committee examines policing standards, including intelligence accuracy. Dame Karen Bradley leads probes into public safety decisions. Paul Kohler’s questioning exposed discrepancies during the December session.
Committee proceedings record Guildford’s firm denial, contrasting his subsequent letter. MPs pursue accountability for misleading evidence under parliamentary privilege rules.
Broader Use of AI in the UK Public Sector
Microsoft’s 2024 government contract spans civil service departments, embedding Copilot in Office suites. Productivity claims centre on drafting and data synthesis capabilities. Public services report widespread uptake, from local councils to national agencies.
ChatGPT underpins Copilot, raising prior concerns over factual inaccuracies or “hallucinations.” Police guidelines mandate human oversight for AI-generated content.
Reactions from Committee Members and Oversight Bodies
Dame Karen Bradley received the letter as committee chairman, prompting further material review. Paul Kohler, who posed the AI question, represents scrutiny on evidence reliability. No formal response issued by January 14.
HM Inspectorate continues its parallel inquiry into force practices. West Midlands Police commits to procedural updates post-incident.
Football Fan Management Precedents
UK police routinely assess overseas supporter risks for UEFA competitions. Maccabi Tel Aviv’s prior UK visits inform standard protocols. The 2023 Europa Conference League context framed the intelligence needs.
Exclusion decisions balance safety against travel rights, subject to judicial review. This case underscores data sourcing in high-stakes event planning.
