Craig Guildford

Craig Guildford is the former chief constable of West Midlands Police in the UK. He recently retired from his position following a controversy surrounding the banning of Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans from attending a match against Aston Villa. An official inquiry found that Guildford's force used "exaggerated and untrue" intelligence to justify the ban. The report, commissioned by the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, and conducted by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, criticized the force's handling of intelligence. Guildford apologized for providing incorrect evidence to MPs, attributing it to an AI error that included a fictitious match. His actions led to calls for his resignation, including from Wes Streeting, and ultimately prompted his departure. The situation has raised concerns about the politicization of policing decisions and the potential undermining of British institutions.