The police chief for England's second-largest force will keep his job for now, despite a scathing assessment from the Home Secretary and a watchdog report citing "confirmation bias" in a high-profile decision to ban football fans.
Home Secretary Declares Loss of Confidence
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told MPs on Wednesday 14 January 2026 that Chief Constable Craig Guildford of West Midlands Police "no longer has my confidence." Her declaration followed the publication of preliminary findings from chief inspector of constabulary Sir Andy Cooke into the force's handling of a decision to bar supporters of Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending a match at Aston Villa's Villa Park in November.
Ms Mahmood described Sir Andy's report as "damning," pointing to a "failure of leadership" and stating that the intelligence-gathering process showed evidence of "confirmation bias." She placed ultimate responsibility for the force's failure on the chief constable but expressed frustration that reforms introduced in 2011 meant she could not dismiss him herself.
Police Commissioner Opts for Due Process
The power to dismiss the chief constable rests with the elected Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for the West Midlands, Simon Foster. In a statement issued after the Home Secretary's comments, Mr Foster declined to take immediate action to sack Mr Guildford.
He confirmed he had only seen Sir Andy Cooke's letter outlining preliminary views that same day and stated he "must now give it careful and detailed consideration." Mr Foster acknowledged the significant public feeling around the contentious issue but emphasised his duty to follow due process.
Public Accountability Board to Scrutinise Chief
Mr Foster has scheduled a public meeting of his accountability and governance board for Tuesday 27 January 2026, where he will question the chief constable directly on the matter. He stressed that the watchdog's letter is not a final report and noted Sir Andy's views "may develop or change as more information is gathered."
Additionally, the PCC stated he is awaiting a report from the Home Affairs Committee, before which Chief Constable Guildford has already appeared twice to give evidence and apologise for errors in his initial testimony.
This move sets the stage for a significant public showdown over police leadership and accountability in the region, pitting the elected commissioner's commitment to process against the Home Secretary's demand for consequences.
