Police

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)

Birmingham

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

By Daniel Ben-David

1 min read

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

Birmingham

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

By Jane Prinsley

2 min read

A football field on a sunny day (Getty Images)

Israeli football

Police arrest 17 suspects linked to Israeli football club in match-fixing probe

By Jacob Jaffa

1 min read

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

Maccabi Tel Aviv

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

By Lorin Bell-Cross

6 min read

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

Maccabi Tel Aviv

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

By Lorin Bell-Cross

3 min read

Birmingham

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

By Michael Rowe

4 min read

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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

Justice minister rejects claim of ‘two tier’ justice and policing

But West Midlands Police have ‘questions to answer’ over Maccabi fan fan, says Sarah Sackman at Jewish Labour Movement one-day conference

By Lorin Bell-Cross

2 min read

January 11, 2026 13:40

Justice minister Sarah Sackman at the Jewish Labour Movement's conference (standing).

Maccabi fan ban: Pressure mounts on WMP chief constable to resign following ‘deeply concerning’ revelations

Jewish communal groups have called for Craig Guildford’s resignation, as has opposition leader Kemi Badenoch

By Lorin Bell-Cross

4 min read

January 7, 2026 16:00

West Midlands Police accused of fabricating evidence to ban Maccabi supporters

The force drew up the ‘intelligence’ after the decision of “no away fans” had already been taken, the Sunday Times reports

By Jane Prinsley

3 min read

January 4, 2026 13:04

Mounted police officers secure the area outside Villa Park in Birmingham, central England, on November 6, 2025 for the UEFA Europa League league-stage football match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv as demonstrators gather outside. (Getty Images)

Minutes of West Midlands Police meeting contain no suggestion Jewish community backed Maccabi fan ban

Representatives of the force even noted that Jewish groups ‘expressed concern that banning away fans could be perceived as antisemitic’, according to official records disclosed under a Freedom of Information request

By Lorin Bell-Cross

2 min read

January 2, 2026 09:42

A man protests the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ahead of the team's Europa League match against Aston Villa on November 06, 2025, in Birmingham (Getty Images)

West Midlands Police apologise for saying Jews wanted Maccabi fan ban – but still claim some back it ‘privately’

Chief Constable Craig Guildford admitted the force had ‘no documented feedback’ from the community when the claim was made, but insisted there was ‘never any intention to mislead’

By Jacob Jaffa

1 min read

December 31, 2025 07:27

By Gideon Falter

Our poll tells of a Jewish community feeling betrayed by those trusted to protect us

We are a famously disunited community – but the latest CAA survey reveals near unanimity on key issues

3 min read

December 22, 2025 15:29

A Chanukah candle-lighting in central London on December 15, 2025 (Getty Images)

Watchdog orders West Midlands Police to explain Villa decision and threatens full investigation

Move by the Independent Office for Police Conduct described as ‘unprecedented’

By Eliana Jordan

1 min read

December 21, 2025 11:18

Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate ahead of the Uefa Europa League league-stage football match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)

'Globalise the intifada’ chant banned at protests in London and Manchester

Police forces in the cities have received new powers allowing them to take action against protesters using the phrase

By Jane Prinsley

3 min read

December 17, 2025 11:20

A woman holds up a sign that reads "anti-semitism kills" between police officers as people take part in a Chanukah candle-lighting organised by the Campaign Against Antisemitism and Chabad Lubavitch in Parliament Square in central London on December 15, 2025 in honour of victims of the mass shooting at a Jewish gathering in Australia (Getty Images)

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Police

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

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

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

Police arrest 17 suspects linked to Israeli football club in match-fixing probe

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

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More from Police

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

Justice minister rejects claim of ‘two tier’ justice and policing

Maccabi fan ban: Pressure mounts on WMP chief constable to resign following ‘deeply concerning’ revelations

West Midlands Police accused of fabricating evidence to ban Maccabi supporters

Minutes of West Midlands Police meeting contain no suggestion Jewish community backed Maccabi fan ban

West Midlands Police apologise for saying Jews wanted Maccabi fan ban – but still claim some back it ‘privately’

Our poll tells of a Jewish community feeling betrayed by those trusted to protect us

Watchdog orders West Midlands Police to explain Villa decision and threatens full investigation

'Globalise the intifada’ chant banned at protests in London and Manchester