Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has initiated an investigation into West Midlands Police following the retirement of Chief Constable Craig Guildford. This development comes in the wake of controversy surrounding the decision to ban fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending a football match against Aston Villa. The IOPC revealed it had received new information within the past 24 hours, which prompted it to exercise its “power of initiative” to independently examine the case. The inquiry will focus on whether any officers or staff members committed professional misconduct during the incident.
Guildford stepped down after admitting to providing inaccurate evidence to a Commons committee, including a denial that the police had used artificial intelligence (AI) to gather evidence about a non-existent match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and West Ham. Rachel Watson, the director general of the IOPC, confirmed that new information from West Midlands Police had emerged, challenging previous assessments about potential misconduct. “There are many unanswered questions and it’s right for accountability and public confidence for us to independently investigate,” she stated. The IOPC plans a thorough evaluation of all available evidence and will collect additional details where required to determine if police officers violated professional standards relating to their duties.
In addition to examining the initial intelligence reports and briefings provided to the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) that led to the ban on supporters, the investigation will scrutinize the involvement of those who prepared these documents and the accuracy of the information. Rachel Watson noted that the His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) had identified inaccuracies in the report, which the IOPC will investigate further to understand the origin and verification of the intelligence. The inquiry will also consider record-keeping practices and whether local representatives of the Jewish community were genuinely consulted, as suggested in briefing documents. Moreover, the IOPC confirmed receipt of a voluntary conduct referral from West Midlands Police concerning one senior officer and a staff member linked to the use of AI.
Simon Foster, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, acknowledged the significant damage the situation has caused to public trust, especially among particular communities. He described the erosion of confidence as “unacceptable” and emphasized his expectation that the force maintain the highest standards of conduct at all times. Foster has faced criticism and calls for resignation over his decision not to dismiss Guildford sooner. Critics, including Campaign Against Antisemitism figures Stephen Silverman and Gideon Falter, accused the commissioner of indecision, with Falter labeling the outcome as a “pitiful failure.” Guildford chose to retire last Friday, attributing the decision to step down to the “political and media frenzy” rather than issuing an apology, while expressing that his retirement was in the best interests of the police force, himself, and his family
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.