Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
5th Report - Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban
Home Affairs Committee
HC 1553
Published 22 February 2026
Conclusions (4)
2
Conclusion
Acknowledged
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 …
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.
11
Conclusion
Acknowledged
While the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) was not involved in the Safety Advisory Group process, and it is right that the principle of operational independence is respected, the West Midlands PCC appeared to prioritise defending the Chief Constable above holding him to account, until this approach proved untenable with …
Government Response Summary
The government notes the Police and Crime Commissioner's responsibility and subsequent scrutiny of the Chief Constable's actions, including seeking assurances on lessons identified.
13
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Given the international context and location of this fixture, it may have been proportionate to designate this fixture as one of national significance, had the recommendation of Baroness Casey been adopted. (Conclusion, Paragraph 48)
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the need to examine whether national-level support and coordination could be improved for events with risks extending beyond the local footprint, and is developing options to test with stakeholders, but will await the HMICFRS report before finalizing proposals.
15
Conclusion
Acknowledged
This incident has caused serious damage to trust in West Midlands Police, particularly among the local Jewish community, as well as to public confidence in the effectiveness of the force. Assistant Chief Constable O’Hara told us that there was no conspiracy to ban away fans, and we have seen no …
Government Response Summary
The government welcomes the West Midlands Police's actions to reassure the public and rebuild confidence, including engaging with community representatives, reviewing internal processes, and strengthening transparency, and will continue to work with partners to ensure lessons are embedded.