Police Chief in UK Retires After Facing Scrutiny for Banning Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv Fans From Soccer Match

However, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said Guildford’s decision to retire “is simply not good enough.”

“Craig Guildford disgraced himself and his force,” Philp added. “He should now face gross misconduct proceedings through an Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation – which can continue even after retirement or resignation. I will now be writing to the IOPC to call for this.”

Reform UK’s Head of Policy Zia Yusuf similarly said Guildford should not be allowed to retire. The chief constable instead should have been fired and “held accountable for his actions,” Yusuf reportedly said.

Foster was the only person with power to fire the chief constable. Gideon Falter, chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, criticized Foster’s lack of action against the chief constable and called for him to step down.

“What of the only person with the power to hold Craig Guildford to account – the only one with the power to fire him? West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster took the Government to court to remain in post, so he clearly has some fight in him, but where did that fight go as the only Chief Constable under his supervision became the national poster boy for appeasement and corrupt policing?” Falter asked in a post on X. “Why has he not lifted a finger, leaving Craig Guildford to determine if and how he should go? How can Mr. Foster allow the travesty of not sanctioning Mr. Guildford at all, allowing him to retire, with all the benefits that entails?”

In his announcement on Thursday, Foster said it was important that the matter regarding Guildford’s position be resolved in a “balanced, calm, fair, measured, and respectful manner” to prevent what could have been “significant distraction, impact and cost to West Midlands Police and the wider West Midlands.” He also announced that Deputy Chief Constable Scott Green will be acting chief constable.

Foster has already met with Green “to discuss the actions that the force must take to re-build trust and confidence amongst all the people and communities of the West Midlands, including addressing the significant matters identified in the letter from HMIC.”