Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Acknowledged
Former Chief Constable Guildford was not informed ahead of giving oral evidence on 6 January...
Conclusion
Former Chief Constable Guildford was not informed ahead of giving oral evidence on 6 January that Microsoft Copilot AI had been used to generate the erroneous information about a match between West Ham and Maccabi Tel Aviv. On this basis we can only conclude that the former Chief Constable did not intentionally mislead the Committee. However, by 6 January 2026 we understand that the use of AI had been disclosed within West Midlands Police, so it is reasonable to expect that former Chief Constable Guildford and Assistant Chief Constable O’Hara should have been accurately briefed on this matter. Having been asked specifically about the use of AI on 1 December 2025, it demonstrates a remarkable lack of professional curiosity on the part of the former Chief Constable not to interrogate the evidential basis to furnish himself with accurate information ahead of our session on 6 January. The fact that he was able to give the Committee incorrect information on two separate occasions is more evidence of the poor due diligence which West Midlands Police applied to information in this case. It should not have taken two oral evidence sessions and a subsequent written correction to achieve candour and accuracy; this raises serious questions about the culture of transparency and commitment to accuracy in West Midlands Police. (Conclusion, Paragraph 24)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government acknowledged the Committee's findings, noting that the Police and Crime Commissioner is responsible for accountability. It welcomed the steps taken by West Midlands Police to review processes, strengthen transparency, and engage with communities, and committed to continuing to work with policing partners.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government · verbatim extract
Acknowledged
As the Committee notes, the Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands is responsible for holding the Chief Constable to account for the exercise of their functions, including the conduct and performance of the force. In January, the then Chief Constable announced his intention to retire. The Police and Crime Commissioner subsequently scrutinised the circumstances surrounding the policing of the Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv match at his Accountability and Governance Board on 27 January, where he examined the force’s decision-making and sought assurances from the Acting Chief Constable on lessons identified. The Government welcomes the steps taken in the West Midlands to reassure the public and rebuild confidence. West Midlands Police have engaged with affected community representatives; reviewed their internal processes for intelligence assessments and operational decision-making; and committed to strengthening transparency for future high-risk matches. The Police and Crime Commissioner has also taken forward further oversight activity to ensure that concerns raised by stakeholders are properly addressed. These local actions form an important part of restoring confidence, and Government will continue to work with policing partners, the football authorities and across departments to ensure that lessons are embedded.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗