Police chief who refused to quit over lies that led to ban on Israeli football fans ‘may sue for constructive dismissal and six-figure payout’ amid backlash over his retirement
Police chief Craig Guildford plans to sue for constructive dismissal after retiring yesterday following the Maccabi Tel Aviv debacle.
The region’s police and crime commissioner (PCC) has allowed the West Midlands chief constable to leave with his full pension; He even praised his “honour” in resigning.
Mr Guildford finally resigned from his post after days of rejecting calls to resign from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and MPs.
The 52-year-old is now consulting lawyers about the possibility of suing for constructive dismissal for a six-figure payout worth more than £600,000, the Daily Mail has revealed.
Sources close to Mr Guildford said ‘constructive dismissal is on his mind’ and that the senior civil servant is seeking a ‘significant payment’ as he has almost three years left on his contract worth £288,700 a year, including £215,300 in salary.
But last night the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) raised the possibility that Mr Guildford could face a misconduct investigation and that any proceedings could possibly be delayed.
The Watchdog is examining a report by Chief Constable Sir Andy Cooke which reveals how evidence was fabricated and exaggerated by police to justify a ban on Israeli fans attending the Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv match in Birmingham in November last year.
Its chief executive, Rachel Watson, said the IOPC’s ‘interest’ in Mr Guildford and the other officers involved did not end following his decision to resign.
Craig Guildford, the former Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, was photographed giving evidence to the Home Affairs Committee in December 2025, before his retirement, that Israeli football fans had been banned from attending an Aston Villa match the previous month.
Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the stadium before the Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv match in November last year
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said on Wednesday she had lost confidence in Mr Guildford but the Labor police and crime commissioner refused to sack him
He added: ‘We examined a wealth of evidence and interviewed the following people: [the Inspectorate of Constabulary] to request additional materials.
‘If there is any sign of abuse we will take action.’
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp formally complained to the watchdog, saying Mr Guildford’s actions in relation to the match ‘could amount to gross misconduct’.
Mr Philp yesterday said it was ‘utterly outrageous’ that the senior civil servant had consulted lawyers to file a lawsuit after blaming ‘political and media frenzy’ for his departure.
‘This is clearly an insult to the British public. ‘This man should have been disgracefully dismissed,’ Mr Philp added.
Allowing the police officer to leave was condemned yesterday. Home Secretary Ms Mahmood said on Wednesday she had lost confidence in Mr Guildford but the chief constable refused to go for days.
Local PCC Simon Foster, the only person with the power to sack him, praised his ‘honour’ and many ‘positive achievements and contributions’ and said: ‘Chief Constable Craig Guildford retired from West Midlands Police with immediate effect today.
‘In doing so he acted with dignity and in the interests of West Midlands Police and our region.’
Ayoub Khan, the independent MP for Villa Park, also criticized Mr Guildford’s retirement, saying it was “one of the great injustices of our time” that a police chief “was sacrificed not for failure but for doing his duty”.
But Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said: ‘A chief constable cannot keep his job by giving in to the demands of an Islamist mob and misleading Parliament.
‘I’m glad he’s now ‘retired’ but it’s extraordinary that the Labor PCC and the Home Secretary didn’t just sack him.’
Ms Mahmood said: ‘The chief inspector’s findings were very bad. They have drawn up a list of failings that have damaged trust in West Midlands Police.
‘Craig Guildford did the right thing by resigning today.’
Gavin Stephens, chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, acknowledged the controversy had damaged the force, saying: ‘We absolutely accept that the inspectorate’s observations and the views in Parliament and elsewhere are really serious and damaging to policing.’
Mr Guildford said yesterday: ‘The political and media frenzy around me and my position has become counterproductive to all the great work my officers and staff undertake to serve communities in the West Midlands.’
