The Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council have issued a joint statement on the Home Secretary’s view that she no longer has confidence in West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford.
It reads: “We welcome the Home Secretary’s statement setting out the damning findings of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) report into West Midlands Police’s decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from their match with Aston Villa, and her statement that she no longer has confidence in Chief Constable Craig Guildford.
“HMIC has confirmed our long-held concerns that the force sought evidence that supported a predetermined conclusion rather than following the evidence to a reasonable conclusion. The threats posed by Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were overstated based on numerous inaccurate claims, and the genuine risk to them was understated.
“The HMIC report has also confirmed there was a failure to engage with the local Jewish community.
We call on the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, to exercise his authority and dismiss Chief Constable Guildford without delay.
“This case signals wider concerns about the factors influencing police judgement and decision making. We will continue to work with government authorities and police forces across the country to ensure the lessons are learned, to ensure there can be no repetition, and restore our community’s trust.”
Photo: Shabana Mahmood (Shutterstock)
