The Labour Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands has refused to take action against the police chief at the centre of a row over the banning of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from an Aston Villa match.
This is despite comments from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker who have both called for the resignation of West Midlands Chief Constable Craig Guildford.
The West Midlands PCC Simon Foster said: “I acknowledge, recognise and understand the significant strength of feeling that is shared by many people, including myself, in connection with this contentious issue.
“His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary has written a letter to the Home Secretary to set out his ‘preliminary views’, in relation to the match assessment and categorisation carried out by West Midlands Police around the Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Aston Villa fixture on November 6 2025.
“I have been sent that letter having had no sight of, or briefing on, its contents before today. I must now give it careful and detailed consideration.
POLITICS LIVE: Labour Police and Crime Commissioner REFUSES to Take Action Over Police Chief Sacking Despite Shabana Mahmood and Local Mayor Calling for His Removal
A major political confrontation has erupted in the West Midlands after Labour Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster declined to immediately dismiss Chief Constable Craig Guildford, despite mounting pressure from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker.
The dispute has exposed divisions within Labour over police accountability, leadership, public confidence, and the handling of a highly controversial decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending a football match against Aston Villa.
What began as a policing decision has developed into a national political controversy, raising serious questions about the use of intelligence, the reliability of information supplied by police forces, and who should ultimately have the authority to remove senior police officers.
For Mahmood, the situation represents a significant leadership failure that requires consequences. For Foster, however, any decision must follow the proper legal procedures rather than being dictated by immediate political pressure.
The disagreement has created an uncomfortable situation for the Labour Party, with senior figures publicly demanding action while the official holding the dismissal power refuses to rush into a decision.
The Maccabi Tel Aviv Controversy
The controversy began when West Midlands Police supported a decision to prevent Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending their team’s Europa League match against Aston Villa at Villa Park in November 2025.
The decision was justified on public safety grounds, with authorities expressing concerns about potential disorder and the resources required to police the event.
However, the decision generated widespread criticism, particularly from Jewish organisations and supporters of the Israeli football club.
Questions were raised about the accuracy of the intelligence used to assess the potential threat and whether the police had properly considered the safety of visiting supporters.
The controversy intensified after an independent review conducted by Sir Andy Cooke, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary.
The review identified serious shortcomings in the information and decision-making processes used by West Midlands Police.
Its findings raised concerns about inaccurate intelligence, insufficient engagement with relevant communities, and an approach that appeared to favour evidence supporting an existing decision rather than examining all available information objectively.
These findings placed Chief Constable Craig Guildford under increasing pressure.
Shabana Mahmood Declares No Confidence
On 14 January 2026, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood addressed the House of Commons and delivered a serious assessment of the West Midlands Police leadership.
She announced that she no longer had confidence in Chief Constable Craig Guildford.
Mahmood criticised what she described as a failure of leadership and questioned the accuracy of information provided by the force.
One particularly concerning element involved inaccurate intelligence concerning previous football matches.
The review identified eight inaccuracies in information supplied by West Midlands Police. These included a reference to a match involving Maccabi Tel Aviv and West Ham that had never taken place.
The force acknowledged that errors had occurred and apologised.
Guildford also apologised to MPs for providing erroneous information, attributing some of the mistakes to the use of artificial intelligence.
For Mahmood, the situation demonstrated why senior police leaders must be held accountable when serious failures damage public confidence.
She also expressed frustration that she did not possess the immediate legal authority to dismiss the chief constable.
Under the existing arrangements, that responsibility rested with the local Police and Crime Commissioner.
Simon Foster Refuses to Rush Into Dismissal
Despite the Home Secretary’s intervention, Labour Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster declined to immediately remove Guildford.
Foster acknowledged the seriousness of the controversy and recognised the strength of public concern.
However, he argued that the findings needed careful examination before any decision could be made.
He also pointed out that the inspector’s initial findings were not necessarily the final assessment and that further parliamentary scrutiny was expected.
Foster announced that he would question Guildford at a public meeting of his Accountability and Governance Board on 27 January 2026.
His position was based on the principle that the dismissal process must follow the law and established procedures.
This response created a political disagreement within Labour.
While Mahmood wanted stronger consequences for what she regarded as a serious leadership failure, Foster maintained that his statutory responsibilities required a considered decision.
The controversy highlighted an important distinction between political confidence and the legal authority to dismiss a chief constable.
Richard Parker Adds to the Pressure
The dispute became even more politically sensitive after West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker joined calls for Guildford to stand down.
Parker argued that confidence in West Midlands Police had been seriously damaged and that restoring public trust required changes in leadership.
His intervention increased pressure on Foster, who was now facing criticism from multiple senior Labour figures.
The disagreement also attracted attention from Jewish organisations, community representatives, and politicians who believed that the handling of the Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters had exposed serious weaknesses within the police force.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council also called for decisive action.
Meanwhile, other political voices argued that Guildford was being subjected to excessive pressure before the full investigation and parliamentary scrutiny had been completed.
The result was a complicated political situation in which questions about public confidence, institutional responsibility, and procedural fairness became increasingly intertwined.
Why the Police Chief’s Future Became a National Issue
The controversy was not simply about one football match.
It raised broader concerns about how police forces gather intelligence, assess risks, communicate with local authorities, and make decisions affecting different communities.
Police forces have considerable responsibilities when managing major public events.
Their decisions must be based on reliable evidence, balanced assessments, and a proper understanding of potential risks.
If inaccurate information influences a major decision, the consequences can extend beyond the immediate event.
Public confidence depends on people believing that policing decisions are objective, proportionate, and free from inappropriate influence.
The West Midlands controversy therefore attracted attention far beyond Birmingham.
It became a national discussion about police leadership and the mechanisms available to hold senior officers accountable.
The Government Wants Stronger Powers
One of the most significant consequences of the dispute was the government’s announcement that it intended to restore the Home Secretary’s power to dismiss chief constables.
On 14 January 2026, Mahmood announced plans to introduce new statutory powers allowing Home Secretaries to force the resignation, retirement, or suspension of chief constables in cases involving serious or persistent performance failures.
The existing system had transferred dismissal authority to elected Police and Crime Commissioners following reforms introduced in 2011.
Mahmood argued that the Home Secretary should have the ability to intervene when police leadership failures seriously damage public confidence.
The proposal forms part of wider plans to reform policing and strengthen accountability.
However, the proposal has also raised questions about the appropriate balance between local police independence and central government oversight.
Supporters of stronger ministerial powers argue that serious failures require effective intervention.
Critics warn that excessive political influence over operational policing could undermine the independence of police forces.
The debate therefore extends beyond the immediate controversy involving Guildford.
What Happened to Craig Guildford?
The pressure surrounding Guildford continued after the initial confrontation.
Following the controversy and the growing criticism of his leadership, he ultimately took early retirement rather than being formally dismissed by Foster.
This outcome became another focus of political debate because it meant that the Police and Crime Commissioner did not exercise the dismissal power in the manner demanded by some politicians and campaigners.
The episode also strengthened the government’s argument for changing the system governing chief constables.
It demonstrated how disagreements between the Home Secretary and local police governance structures could complicate decisions during major public controversies.
Conclusion: A Major Test for Labour and Police Accountability
The confrontation involving Shabana Mahmood, Simon Foster, Richard Parker, and Craig Guildford exposed important divisions over the future of policing in England.
At the centre of the controversy was a serious failure in the handling of intelligence surrounding the Maccabi Tel Aviv football match and the subsequent damage to confidence in West Midlands Police.
Mahmood demanded accountability and publicly withdrew her confidence in the chief constable. Parker supported calls for a change in leadership, while Foster insisted that any decision had to follow the appropriate statutory process.
The controversy ultimately contributed to the government’s plans to strengthen the Home Secretary’s powers over police leadership.
For the public, the wider lesson is that police accountability must be more than a political promise.
Senior officers must be answerable for serious mistakes, intelligence must be accurate, and decisions affecting communities must be based on reliable evidence.
At the same time, police independence and proper legal procedures must be protected.
The challenge for Labour is to demonstrate that its proposed reforms can strengthen accountability without turning policing into an instrument of political control.
Ultimately, public trust will depend on whether the police can learn from their mistakes, improve their decision-making, and demonstrate that the same standards of fairness and professionalism apply to everyone.