Summary
West Midlands Police admitted they overstated the evidence used to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a soccer match in Birmingham. The decision involved problems with communication and use of AI tools, prompting a review of their processes. The ban was debated internally and included political briefings before a final decision was made.
Key Facts
- West Midlands Police overstated evidence for banning Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a match against Aston Villa.
- The former chief constable, Craig Guildford, retired amid criticism of the decision.
- The police did not engage early enough with the local Jewish community.
- The validation process involved errors, including referencing a match that never occurred due to an AI tool error.
- The match was expected to involve high costs and complex operations if 2,500 away fans attended.
- Documentation for the ban was created by a Safety Advisory Group (SAG) including Birmingham City Council.
- Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood was informed about the possibility of a fan ban before a final decision was made.
