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West Midlands Police 2026-01-14
14 January 2026
Lead MP
The Secretary of State for the Home Department
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
Policing & ResourcesForeign Affairs
Other Contributors: 31
At a Glance
The Secretary of State for the Home Department raised concerns about west midlands police 2026-01-14 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
Policing & ResourcesForeign Affairs
Government Statement
Today, I am making a statement regarding the decision to ban travelling fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending a game at Villa Park in November last year. The decision was taken by Birmingham city council following advice from West Midlands police and the safety advisory group. On October 8th, Chief Constables informed me that West Midlands Police was considering options for ensuring the game's safety, including a ban on fans. My Department sought information thereafter but did not influence the decision due to ongoing considerations. The final decision by the safety advisory group on October 16th banned the fans from attending, citing safety concerns. Subsequent meetings revealed inaccurate summaries and misleading communications. Sir Andy Cooke’s interim report criticises West Midlands Police for poor engagement with Jewish communities and confirmation bias in intelligence gathering. It concludes that the police overstated threats posed by Maccabi Tel Aviv fans while understating risks to Israeli fans. Due to these failures, I have lost confidence in Chief Constable Craig Guildford, though current laws prevent me from dismissing him directly. The Government will reintroduce Home Secretary’s power to dismiss chief constables in response to significant or persistent failings, part of upcoming White Paper on police reform.
Chris Philp
Con
Croydon South
Question
Will you apologise for allowing your adviser to give the BBC untrue information on 17 October?
Minister reply
The Home Secretary did not directly answer this question but acknowledged that she will consider the matter further and ensure transparency moving forward.
Will Forster
Lib Dem
Woking
Question
The Lib Dem spokesperson stated that the recommendation by West Midlands police to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans was an incredibly serious mistake and asked if the chief constable should consider his position. He also inquired about the need for an Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation, the Hillsborough law's implementation, and the transparency regarding AI use in policing.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary stated that she has informed the police and crime commissioner of her lack of confidence in the chief constable but emphasised respect for the statutory process. She expressed expectations for the IOPC to consider its own investigation powers based on Sir Andy Cooke's findings. The Home Secretary agreed with the need for a duty of candour for public officials and confirmed that she looks forward to the Hillsborough law becoming an Act of Parliament as soon as possible. On AI use by police forces, she stated her intention to publish a policing reform White Paper addressing this issue.
Peter Prinsley
Lab
Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket
Question
The MP inquired about suspicions of political interference with the work of the Birmingham safety advisory group, asking what would happen if evidence of such interference were to surface.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary stated that Sir Andy's findings did not indicate any evidence of antisemitism or political interference. She emphasised following those independent findings and respecting their conclusions.
Ayoub Khan
Ind
Birmingham Perry Barr
Question
The MP accused the Home Secretary of conducting a witch hunt against the chief constable, suggesting that this was politically motivated to throw him under the bus. He defended West Midlands Police's reputation for working with all communities and criticised the use of the ban as an excuse for unaddressed racism and violence.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary did not directly address Ayoub Khan's questions due to intervention by Madam Deputy Speaker.
Graham Stringer
Lab
Blackley and Middleton South
Question
Does the Home Secretary consider prosecuting the Chief Constable for malfeasance in public office?
Minister reply
The Independent Office for Police Conduct will review findings made by Sir Andy Cooke. It is independent, so I cannot speculate on its actions or any other prosecutorial authority's decisions.
Andrew Mitchell
Con
Sutton Coldfield
Question
Will the Home Secretary consider abolishing Police and Crime Commissioners?
Minister reply
We will pursue the policy of abolishing PCCs, as set out in a White Paper and an oral statement to be made shortly. This will ensure better oversight mechanisms for policing at local level.
Birmingham Erdington
Question
How can we ensure chief constables have the skills to operate in a political world?
Minister reply
We need trustworthiness and robust risk assessments based on facts rather than external influences. Chief Constables must be credible and transparent when presenting their findings.
Gavin Williamson
Con
Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge
Question
Did any Government officials talk to Maccabi Tel Aviv FC or embassies about the decision?
Minister reply
All conversations were detailed by my officials when they gave evidence to the Home Affairs Committee. No other discussions occurred from the Home Office.
Tahir Ali
Lab
Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley
Question
Will tough action be taken against individuals who influenced decisions on a personal basis?
Minister reply
Sir Andy Cooke will address how safety advisory groups function, including the role of bias in decision-making. We must ensure these groups operate dispassionately based on facts.
Bradley Thomas
Con
Bromsgrove
Question
What actions are being taken to combat antisemitism across public institutions?
Minister reply
Antisemitism is a terrible stain upon our country. It is crucial that when the police conduct risk assessments, they follow facts and professional judgment without fear or favour.
Smethwick
Question
Will more information be provided about the review into safety advisory groups?
Minister reply
Sir Andy's further findings will be received within a couple of months, followed by a debate in this House. We need transparency and rules that prevent manipulation.
Hendon
Question
Welcoming the Home Secretary’s statement, David Pinto-Duschinsky inquired about measures to ensure such a failure never happens again.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary emphasised that operational independence will always be respected but acknowledged the need for policing leaders across the country to learn from this incident and improve their practices.
Mike Wood MP
Con
Kingswinford and South Staffordshire
Question
Praising his father's service in West Midlands Police, Mike Wood questioned whether the police and crime commissioner should also consider his position.
Minister reply
Shabana Mahmood directed the hon. Member to Sir Andy’s findings about what the police and crime commissioner knew or did not know but assured that once he has absorbed these findings, he will set out himself what he thinks on these matters.
Warinder Juss MP
Lab
Wolverhampton West
Question
A proud Wolverhampton Wanderers fan and season ticket holder, Warinder Juss asked for assurance that football fans should never be prevented from attending matches due to their faith or skin colour.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary assured the House that all police forces must do everything they can to ensure matters of cultural and sporting significance go ahead safely without preventing anyone based on who they are or their faith.
Gosport
Question
Inquiring about the use of AI in police forces, Dame Caroline Dinenage questioned if there were other consequential decisions made with unverified AI.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary highlighted that while AI has a powerful role to play in assisting the police, it must be used accurately and protect evidence validity for legal proceedings. She will outline further details in an upcoming policing reform White Paper.
Birmingham Northfield
Question
Acknowledging serious concerns about the decision, Laurence Turner questioned if there must be assurance that other decisions have not been tainted by similar failures.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary assured that while there is no broader finding of systemic failure in Sir Andy’s report, she and others will want to assure themselves of robustness in West Midlands police procedures.
The Wrekin
Question
Commending the Home Secretary's statement on community relations, Mark Pritchard asked for assurance that lessons would be learned and other chief officers reminded to act in service of whole communities.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary reiterated her stance on community relations and clarified that while she has set out a view following an independent report, the police and crime commissioner is unfettered in how he approaches matters.
Antonia Bance MP
Lab
Tipton and Wednesbury
Question
Praising dedicated frontline officers, Antonia Bance asked for urgent development of a community cohesion strategy tackling extremism and antisemitism.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary affirmed the importance of high standards of community engagement from senior public servants and the need to end situations where communities feel unsupported by police.
Richard Tice
Reform
Boston and Skegness
Question
The Home Secretary has rightly lost confidence in the West Midlands chief constable, who kowtowed to thugs, abandoned the Jewish community and blamed Jewish fans. If the police and crime commissioner fails to fire the chief constable, will she still have confidence in that commissioner? Will she make the new legislation retrospective, to ensure that action is delivered?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman should wait for the full proposals which I will publish in the policing reform White Paper. It would be wrong for me to try and influence or comment on the decision from the Dispatch Box as the powers under the 2011 Act lie with the police and crime commissioner.
Joani Reid
Lab
East Kilbride and Strathaven
Question
The saga with West Midlands police reveals a serious story about public life in Britain. Does the Home Secretary recognise the urgent need to take action? Will she consider a cross-departmental extremism strategy to address ideological antisemitism?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend's point is well made. A cross-Government effort is under way and we will have more to say in due course. We are working on this carefully.
Alec Shelbrooke
Con
Wetherby and Easingwold
Question
The Jewish community has felt under siege for a decade now, with antisemitism rampant across various institutions. Will the Home Secretary use every effort of her office to ensure that where antisemitism is still given a safe space, leaders of those institutions are called out and action taken?
Minister reply
Let me reassure the right hon. Gentleman that the Government are taking action across Education, Health and the Home Office to drive out antisemitism in every way it presents itself.
Jo White
Lab
Bassetlaw
Question
Does the Home Secretary agree that councillors should be removed from safety advisory groups, and that there should be greater transparency to ensure that there is no reliance on confirmation bias? This is intertwined with the risk of predetermination that local authorities have a duty prevent when carrying out judicial duties.
Minister reply
There are question marks over the way in which safety advisory groups function. I asked Sir Andy to look more broadly at their make-up, transparency and process by which they should make decisions.
Bob Blackman
Con
Harrow East
Question
The Home Secretary welcomes the tone and content of her statement about attempts to prevent Maccabi from playing in Villa Park. She recognises that the police concocted evidence to support their case. Should other officers also be held accountable?
Minister reply
These events have happened on the chief constable's watch, but it is now for him and the police and crime commissioner to reflect on what further actions they might wish to take.
Sean Woodcock
Lab
Banbury
Question
The Home Secretary recognises that this whole saga has caused damage to the bond of trust with our Jewish community, which had already been under increasing pressure. Does she agree that somebody has to take responsibility?
Minister reply
Others will need to reflect on their positions and what further steps they might take. The findings of Sir Andy Cooke’s report are damning and devastating.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
Does the presentation of Sir Andy's independent report make clear whether the police thought that the home community were likely to attack visiting fans?
Minister reply
The findings are damning and devastating, which is why these findings are so serious.
Mark Sewards
Lab
Leeds South West and Morley
Question
Welcoming the content of the Home Secretary's statement, Mark Sewards asked how she would reassure Israeli fans that such incidents will not happen again and that the law will be applied equally without fear or favour.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary stated that the message needs to go out loud and clear to everyone: every police force making decisions on cultural or football events must follow facts and act without fear or favour. Proper policing allows events to continue safely, ensuring people can enjoy them.
Nick Timothy
Con
West Suffolk
Question
Timothy asked if the Prime Minister was told in advance that a ban was likely and whether she sought intelligence justifying the ban before it was announced. He questioned her operational independence.
Minister reply
Shabana Mahmood refuted suggestions that she was told definitively of the ban before its announcement and stated it would have been inappropriate for her to carry out her own risk assessment or challenge police decisions without evidence.
Paul Kohler
LD
Wimbledon
Question
Paul Kohler asked about the use of AI in preparing the police report and pressed for preliminary instructions from chief constables asking them not to use AI in such circumstances.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary said that all police leaders should be aware of the issue surrounding AI hallucinations and assured that guidance on AI usage will be issued.
Iqbal Mohamed
Ind
Dewsbury and Batley
Question
Mohamed questioned Islamophobia in statements made and asked if there is any reference to antisemitic decision making or Islamist influence in Sir Andy Cooke’s report.
Minister reply
Shabana Mahmood reiterated the findings of the independent inspector, emphasising that significant failings by West Midlands police were acknowledged and must be corrected.
Alec Shelbrooke
Con
Wetherby and Easingwold
Question
On a point of order, Sir Alec Shelbrooke sought guidance on whether it is appropriate to question the intentions of Members when asking questions about this issue.
Minister reply
Madam Deputy Speaker reminded all Members to be careful with their language and treat each other with respect.
Shadow Comment
Chris Philp
Shadow Comment
This episode is shameful; West Midlands Police allowed violent Islamists to impose their will by banning Maccabi Tel Aviv fans. The force fabricated claims about fan violence in Amsterdam, which was untrue. The chief constable must be fired immediately. The Home Secretary has powers under Section 40 of the Police Act 1996 to direct the police and crime commissioner to dismiss the chief constable where a part of the force is failing effectively, as is evident here. She should use these powers now. Additionally, she misled the BBC on October 17th about her knowledge of potential fan bans prior to October 16th.
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