🔴 WATCHDOG REFUSES TO DROP CASE AS WMP CHIEF STEPS DOWN

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.

The Catalyst: "AI Hallucinations" and Confirmation Bias

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. 

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

• The AI Hallucination: WMP cited a fictional match between Tel Aviv and West Ham to justify the ban—a detail later revealed to be an "AI hallucination" produced by Microsoft Copilot.
  
• The Intelligence Gap: The force overstated Dutch police injuries and erroneously claimed that fans were linked to the IDF and had intentionally targeted Muslim communities.
  
• Failure of Candour: Mr Guildford was forced to apologise to the Home Affairs Committee for providing "erroneous" evidence, having previously denied the use of AI in the report's creation. 

The Watchdog’s Warning: Retirement is No Shield

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.

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.

Political Fallout: "Sacrifice" vs "Accountability"

The reaction to the exit has exposed a deep rift in the political landscape:

• The Home Secretary: Shabana Mahmood described the move as "the right thing," calling it a crucial step in rebuilding the "shattered" trust of the Jewish community.
  
• The Shadow Home Secretary: Chris Philp branded the PCC "too weak to act," arguing that a standard retirement—which protects Guildford’s pension—is "simply not good enough" given the gravity of the alleged cover-up.
  
• The Local Defiance: Birmingham Perry Barr MP Ayoub Khan described the ousting as "one of the greatest injustices of our time," suggesting it would have a "chilling effect" on public servants who refuse to "conform to politicians." 

Legal Commentary: The Legacy of a "Constructed Narrative"

From a legal perspective, Mr Guildford’s departure is the inevitable result of an irretrievable breakdown in the Duty of Candour. By allowing a report riddled with "confirmation bias" and "AI hallucinations" to be presented as high-level intelligence, the force crossed a rubicon from operational error into a potential breach of professional standards.

The IOPC’s continued involvement suggests that the "retirement" may only be the end of the first chapter. If the watchdog finds evidence of gross misconduct, the implications for the former Chief’s legacy—and potentially his pension—could yet be litigated in the months to come.

Deputy Chief Constable Scott Green has been appointed Acting Chief Constable with immediate effect.