Watchdog refuses to drop case as wmp chief steps down

The tenure of West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford has reached an abrupt and ignominious end.

Following a week of intense constitutional pressure and a "devastating" inspectorate report, Mr Guildford announced his retirement with immediate effect on Friday, 16 January 2026. 

However, any hopes of a quiet departure into a full police pension have been complicated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which has confirmed that its interest in his actions "does not end" with his resignation.

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The resignation follows the Home Secretary’s public declaration that she had lost confidence in Mr Guildford’s leadership. The move was triggered by an HMIC review, led by Sir Andy Cooke, which dismantled the force’s justification for banning Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from Villa Park in November. 

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The report exposed a "catalogue of failings," most notably:

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While Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Simon Foster welcomed the retirement as an "honourable" act that avoided a complex and costly dismissal process, the IOPC has struck a more ominous tone.

Director General Rachel Watson confirmed the watchdog is examining a "wealth of evidence" and is prepared to use its "powers of initiative" to launch an independent investigation into the conduct of Mr Guildford and other senior officers.

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The probe will focus on whether the force intentionally misrepresented the threat to suit a political narrative and whether the evidence provided to Parliament was wilfully misleading.