West Midlands Police Chief Constable receives £57,000 payout on retirement after intelligence failures over Maccabi Tel Aviv match

Former West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford received a £57,000 taxpayer-funded payout upon retirement from his £220,000-a-year position. GB News reported that the payment followed months of scrutiny over the force's recommendation to ban away fans from the Europa League match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv scheduled for 6 November 2025.

West Midlands Police based its recommendation on intelligence from a 2024 clash between Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters and Ajax fans in Amsterdam.

The force claimed as many as 600 Maccabi supporters attacked Muslim neighbourhoods and alleged that 200 supporters had links to the Israeli military. Dutch police stated that provocations came from both sides and that they had no evidence supporting the military links claim. Five people convicted in the Amsterdam disorder were all found guilty of violence against Israelis.

Guildford admitted that flawed AI-generated information was considered during the decision process. An AI tool produced details of a fictitious match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and West Ham, prompting Guildford to write to MPs with an apology. GB News reported that West Midlands Police later made misleading statements about Maccabi supporters and failed to engage with Britain's Jewish community.

A spokesman for the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner said Guildford was legally entitled to three months' pay in lieu of notice plus any outstanding leave. The spokesman added that the alternative would have been for Guildford to remain in post until April 2026 while working his notice period. The Conservatives described the payout as a reward for failure.