West Midlands police commissioner criticises MPs for bias against chief constable

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has criticized Members of Parliament on the Home Affairs Committee for alleged bias against Chief Constable Craig Guildford. The criticism stems from the committee's ongoing inquiry into the banning of Israeli fans from a Maccabi Tel Aviv football match in Birmingham last November, a decision based on police intelligence suggesting a high risk of violence. Foster alleges that MPs prematurely shared their negative views on Guildford's handling of the situation with journalists, even before all evidence was presented. An apology was issued by a committee official regarding the MPs' conduct. The Home Secretary is also reviewing findings from the policing inspectorate regarding the intelligence used to justify the ban and will determine if she has confidence in Guildford. Foster, as the sole authority to dismiss Guildford, emphasized the importance of an unbiased report from the Home Affairs Committee.

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