West Midlands police and crime commissioner Simon Foster has referred retired chief constable Craig Guildford to the police watchdog. The voluntary referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct concerns Guildford's conduct regarding the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending a match against Aston Villa last November.
The move on Monday marks a significant shift in Foster's stance. Just days earlier, when Guildford announced his retirement on Friday, Foster stated the 52-year-old "acted with honour."
Foster met with West Midlands Police's acting chief and acting deputy chief constables before he referred the matter. He cited the impact on community trust as the driving factor.
Public confidence at stake
"These matters have had a significant impact on public confidence, and the confidence of particular communities in the West Midlands. This is unacceptable," Foster said in a statement. "The force know that I expect them to comply with the very highest standards of conduct at all times."
The commissioner emphasized holding the force accountable for the November 6 fan ban remains a top priority.
Foster possessed the authority to dismiss Guildford but chose not to exercise it before the chief constable's retirement. The voluntary referral now transfers the investigation to the independent watchdog.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
