MPs Demand Accountability from West Midlands Police Over Intelligence Claims Regarding Maccabi Tel Aviv Fans

Members of Parliament are urging West Midlands Police (WMP) to provide a comprehensive explanation of the allegedly exaggerated intelligence that resulted in the prohibition of Israeli fans from attending their match against Aston Villa.

A report published in the Sunday Times asserted that WMP had inflated the perceived threat from Maccabi Tel Aviv fans prior to the match scheduled for November 6. The report referenced incidents of violence during a game in the Netherlands last year as justification for their actions.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp stated that if WMP could not present a satisfactory rationale, Chief Constable Craig Guildford should consider resigning. Additionally, Home Office Minister Sarah Jones confirmed she had reached out to Guildford for further clarification.

In defense of their assessment, WMP maintained that their strategy was “proportionate.” The Sunday Times article indicated that an intelligence report used by the police suggested that certain Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were “highly organized, skilled fighters with a serious desire and will to engage in violence against police and rival groups.” It also claimed that 500 to 600 fans had targeted Muslim communities in Amsterdam, with reports of fans being thrown into a river—allegations the newspaper stated had been denied by Dutch law enforcement.

During an urgent question session in the Commons, Conservative MP Nick Timothy called for the release of all intelligence materials related to the ban, as well as the evidence reviewed by Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG), which was responsible for imposing restrictions on away fans for the match on November 6.

Philp further emphasized the need for government accountability regarding WMP, asserting, “The Maccabi fans were not skilled and organized fighters—these claims were fabricated.”

Minister Sarah Jones informed the MPs that she had written to WMP to investigate the assertions and that the Home Office had requested His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services to conduct a broader inquiry into the safety assessment procedures.

She noted that WMP was conducting a debrief on the events leading up to the match and would release a timeline detailing the decisions made and the rationale behind the recommendations provided to the SAG.

In response to the claims put forth by the Sunday Times, a spokesperson for WMP stated, “West Midlands Police’s evaluation was primarily based on information and intelligence, prioritizing public safety. We assessed the fixture between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam as having involved significant public disorder. Our officers consulted with Dutch police on October 1, where pertinent information regarding that 2024 fixture was exchanged.”

The police concluded that a subset of Maccabi fans presented a “credible threat to public safety” and affirmed, “We are confident that our policing strategy and operational plan were effective, proportionate, and upheld the city’s reputation as a safe and welcoming community for everyone.”

Additionally, a Green Party councillor criticized the ongoing challenges posed by the Birmingham bin strike, describing the situation as a “joke.” Chief Constable Craig Guildford made these remarks while inaugurating a new police station in Dudley. Inspectors have indicated that WMP needs to improve its information-gathering practices concerning at-risk children. Meanwhile, Birmingham residents have been without kerbside recycling collections for nearly a year, and a man has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender following the death of Yassin Alama.