Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has publicly declared she no longer has confidence in West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford. The dramatic announcement follows the publication of a highly critical report into the force's controversial handling of a ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters attending a match in Birmingham.
Damning Report Uncovers Leadership Failures
The pivotal moment came after a review led by chief inspector Sir Andy Cooke, which delivered a "damning" verdict on the police operation. The report, published on Wednesday 14 January 2026, identified a significant "failure of leadership" within the force. It specifically criticised West Midlands Police for a lack of proper engagement with the local Jewish community before imposing the ban.
Furthermore, inspectors concluded that officers had used "confirmation bias" to justify the decision to prevent Maccabi fans from attending the Europa Conference League match against Aston Villa. This means they sought out information that supported a pre-determined view, rather than conducting a balanced assessment of the risks.
Erroneous Evidence and AI 'Hallucination' Blamed
The controversy deepened when it emerged that Chief Constable Guildford had given incorrect evidence to MPs during a parliamentary committee hearing. Initially, he denied that artificial intelligence tools had been used in the intelligence-gathering process for the match.
He later retracted this, blaming the misinformation on an "AI hallucination". This term refers to when an AI system generates plausible but factually incorrect information. The erroneous intelligence even included a reference to a non-existent football match.
Mr Guildford subsequently issued an apology for the error. He clarified that the AI tool involved was Microsoft Co Pilot, not Google as had been previously suggested in some reports. This admission has raised serious questions about the reliance on emerging technology for critical policing decisions.
Political Repercussions and Next Steps
The Home Secretary's loss of confidence places immense political pressure on the senior officer. While the formal power to dismiss a chief constable typically rests with the local police and crime commissioner, the Home Secretary's view carries enormous weight and can trigger further action.
This incident has sparked a wider debate about policing, community relations, and the use of technology in law enforcement. Jewish community leaders have expressed profound concern over the handling of the case, emphasising the need for trust and transparent dialogue.
The fallout from Sir Andy Cooke's report and the Home Secretary's subsequent statement is likely to continue, with potential implications for national policing guidelines on engagement with minority communities and the vetting of intelligence sources.
