West Midlands Police Chief Resigns After Misleading Fan Ban & Fake Match Scandal

Craig Guildford, chief constable of West Midlands Police, resigned on 16 January 2026 after losing government and council confidence. The fallout stemmed from a controversial ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters for the 6 November 2025 Europa League clash at Villa Park. Intelligence reports released in August‑September suggested a “high‑confidence” threat from the club’s fans, later revealed to be partly fabricated, including a non‑existent match against West Ham. The force also relied on AI‑generated data from Microsoft Copilot, misrepresenting the threat level. Multiple apologies from senior officers, the first two from Guildford and one from assistant chief constable Mike O’Hara, followed. MPs on the Home Affairs Select Committee called a full investigation, a probe still ongoing, aiming to restore public trust.