Birmingham City Council & West Midlands Police ban Jews from watching football match...

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Watchdog investigates force over Israeli fan ban



West Midlands Police is to be investigated over its decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a match in Birmingham.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation to look into the actions of officers and staff in the build-up to the Israeli club's fixture with Aston Villa last November.

It follows the retirement of Chief Constable Craig Guildford over the ban at a Europa League tie.

In addition to the IOPC's decision to call in the matter, the force has self-referred itself to the watchdog over one senior officer and one member of staff's use of AI in the planning process of the ban.

The IOPC is to now assess whether employees have cases to answer for misconduct.

The watchdog said it had received new information in the past 24 hours and had used its "power of initiative" to begin a probe.

Guildford has also been referred to the IOPC by West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Simon Foster, who said the matter had "had a significant impact on public confidence".

IOPC director general Rachel Watson said the watchdog had received new information from WMP around the initial assessment of any potential misconduct.

"There are many unanswered questions and it's right for accountability and public confidence for us to independently investigate," she said.

"We will now undertake a full assessment of the evidence, and gather more where necessary, to establish if any of the officers may have breached police professional standards in relation to duties and responsibilities."

She also said the IOPC had requested more evidence from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

Watson added: "Our investigation will examine the briefings and intelligence report provided to the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) which underpinned the decision to ban supporters.

"HMICFRS found it contained inaccuracies. We will go beyond that to understand who was involved in its preparation, how information was obtained, and what checks were in place.

"It was incumbent on those preparing and delivering the report to ensure its veracity and that reasonable efforts be made to ensure it was accurate."

She also said the investigation would consider the record keeping, or lack of it, by individual officers and the assertion in briefing documents to the SAG that local representatives of the Jewish community in Birmingham had been consulted.

Watson confirmed the IOPC had also received a voluntary conduct referral from West Midlands Police relating to one senior police officer and a staff member over the force's use of AI.

The commissioner has also faced calls to resign over his decision not to sack Guildford.

Before the latest announcements, Stephen Silverman, from the Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: "The police and crime commissioner prevaricated, procrastinated, refused to get rid of Mr Guildford when it was quite clear that that was the only route possible."

The campaign's chief executive, Gideon Falter, added the decision was a "pitiful failure" from Foster.