Birmingham

Revealed: Ethics panel quizzed West Midlands Police over AI use month before force relied on it to defend Maccabi ban

WMP apologised for wrongly telling MPs that it did not use artificial intelligence, which created a fictitious match later included in a report used to justify excluding Israeli fans from the Birmingham fixture

By Lorin Bell-Cross

3 min read

Fans of the Israeli football team Maccabi Tel Aviv were controversially barred from attending a football match against Aston Villa in November, leaving many seats in the stadium empty (Photo: Getty)

Promotional material for the launch event for the 'Anti Zionist Movement'

Crime

Two arrested in Birmingham ahead of anti-Zionist group launch

By Daniel Ben-David

1 min read

Birmingham

Police launch criminal probe into anti-Zionist group over ‘zio-eradication’ post

By Daniel Ben-David

1 min read

Birmingham

Launch of ‘zio eradication’ group cancelled by venue

By Daniel Ben-David

2 min read

Sharon Osbourne

Tories urge Sharon Osbourne to stand in Birmingham local elections after star shared outrage over ex-Jihadi candidate

By Lorin Bell-Cross

2 min read

Birmingham

‘Zio-eradication’ group that favours ‘armed resistance’ to meet in Birmingham

By Daniel Ben-David

1 min read

Birmingham

Former jihadi who wants Muslims to ‘learn to fight’ runs for Birmingham City Council

By Jamie Shapiro

2 min read

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West Midlands Police pause use of AI following Maccabi match ‘hallucination’

‘Bespoke antisemitism training’ will be rolled out for the entire workforce as police attempt to repair community relations

By Jane Prinsley

2 min read

January 27, 2026 14:24

Acting chief constable Scott Green was questioned by West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster on Tuesday morning (WMP PCC)

West Midlands Police chief retires following Maccabi fan ban scandal

The decision follows follows a ‘damning’ report on his handling of the affair

By Lorin Bell-Cross

2 min read

January 16, 2026 16:07

West Midlands Police chief constable Craig Guildford (Image: ParliamentTV)

Health secretary calls on West Midlands Police chief to resign by the end of the day

Wes Streeting said that ‘anyone with integrity’ would step down and he would be ‘horrified’ if Craig Guildford remained in his post

By Lorin Bell-Cross

3 min read

January 15, 2026 11:38

Health Secretary Wes Streeting (Photo: Getty Images)

BBC criticised for Maccabi fan ban interview at mosque where preacher called for death of Israeli ‘oppressors’

Extremist sermons emerged after Masjid Al Falaah official told TV news he “welcomed” police decision to bar Tel Aviv team’s supporters

By Jane Prinsley

3 min read

January 14, 2026 20:31

Masjid Al Falaah mosque near Villa Park stadium in Birmingham (Google street view)

Home Secretary says she has no confidence in chief of West Midlands Police

Shabana Mahmood told MPs the police ‘overstated the threat posed by the Maccabi fans, while understating the risk that posed to the Israeli fans’

By Lorin Bell-Cross

6 min read

January 14, 2026 14:54

Chief Constable Craig Guildford of West Midlands Police (Parliament TV)

West Midlands Police apologise for using AI in ‘dodgy dossier’ ahead of Maccabi fan ban

The force’s intelligence report contained reference to a game that never happened between Maccabi and West Ham

By Lorin Bell-Cross

3 min read

January 14, 2026 11:49

It’s simple. The police gave in to extremists in Birmingham

I was invited to a meeting of the city’s senior police officers regarding the fan ban – and they peddled a series of lies

By Michael Rowe

4 min read

January 14, 2026 11:46

West Midlands Police chief must quit, says Jewish community leader who was at talks with force

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to address MPs this afternoon regarding Craig Guildford

By Jane Prinsley

2 min read

January 14, 2026 11:37

By Gill Levy

West Midlands Police capitulated to antisemitism – a former Met officer’s verdict

The answer to why WMP retreated from risks they themselves identified is simple: cowardice and a lack of integrity

4 min read

January 8, 2026 14:31

Assistant Chief Constable Mike O'Hara (l), Chief Constable Craig Guildford, Chief Inspector Mick Wilkinson (Image: Parliamentlive.tv)

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Birmingham

Revealed: Ethics panel quizzed West Midlands Police over AI use month before force relied on it to defend Maccabi ban

Two arrested in Birmingham ahead of anti-Zionist group launch

Police launch criminal probe into anti-Zionist group over ‘zio-eradication’ post

Launch of ‘zio eradication’ group cancelled by venue

Tories urge Sharon Osbourne to stand in Birmingham local elections after star shared outrage over ex-Jihadi candidate

‘Zio-eradication’ group that favours ‘armed resistance’ to meet in Birmingham

Former jihadi who wants Muslims to ‘learn to fight’ runs for Birmingham City Council

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West Midlands Police pause use of AI following Maccabi match ‘hallucination’

West Midlands Police chief retires following Maccabi fan ban scandal

Health secretary calls on West Midlands Police chief to resign by the end of the day

BBC criticised for Maccabi fan ban interview at mosque where preacher called for death of Israeli ‘oppressors’

Home Secretary says she has no confidence in chief of West Midlands Police

West Midlands Police apologise for using AI in ‘dodgy dossier’ ahead of Maccabi fan ban

It’s simple. The police gave in to extremists in Birmingham

West Midlands Police chief must quit, says Jewish community leader who was at talks with force

West Midlands Police capitulated to antisemitism – a former Met officer’s verdict