Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Acknowledged
West Midlands Police failed to engage directly with the Birmingham Jewish community early enough in...
Conclusion
West Midlands Police failed to engage directly with the Birmingham Jewish community early enough in relation to this fixture. As a result, West Midlands Police limited their access to information that might challenge their narrative about Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and also underestimated the impact of the decision to ban fans on local Jewish communities. While we have not received any evidence to suggest that antisemitism was a motivating factor in the decision, the failure to consult with the local Jewish population, in contrast to the comprehensive engagement with other communities, significantly damaged relations with the Jewish community, and provided a basis for some to perceive the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans as antisemitic. We welcome the steps that West Midlands Police are now taking to rebuild trust with the Jewish community. (Conclusion, Paragraph 17) 21
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's concern regarding the perception of undue influence from elected politicians and agrees that Safety Advisory Group membership should be grounded in operational, regulatory, and technical expertise; this aligns with work already underway by the UK Resilience Academy review of Safety Advisory Group guidance.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Safety Advisory Groups are long-established, multi-agency forums that provide expert advice to local authorities and event organisers on public safety matters. Their effectiveness relies on preserving the integrity of professional judgement and maintaining confidence that advice is provided free from political influence. There are very few instances of elected politicians sitting on Safety Advisory Groups. Safety Advisory Groups are not statutory bodies and do not have decision-making powers. Responsibility for licensing and enforcing safety at sports grounds remains with local authorities under the existing legislative framework. Nonetheless, we recognise the Committee’s concern that the involvement of elected politicians risks creating a perception of undue influence. The Government agrees that the membership of Safety Advisory Groups should continue to be grounded in operational, regulatory and technical expertise. Local authorities already have the discretion to determine Safety Advisory Group composition. This recommendation aligns with work already underway. The UK Resilience Academy review of Safety Advisory Group guidance is examining Safety Advisory Groups’ remit, governance and decision-making processes. The new Guidance will set out its position on political involvement given the expectation of impartiality of SAG members.