West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford has announced his immediate retirement following controversy over the force's decision to ban Israeli football fans from a match in Birmingham. The ban, imposed for safety reasons, led to criticism from senior politicians, including the home secretary and the prime minister, who questioned the force's leadership and transparency. Guildford cited the 'political and media frenzy' as detrimental to the force and apologised for providing erroneous evidence to MPs about the ban, including the use of fictional information generated by artificial intelligence. While some officials welcomed his departure as a step toward rebuilding public trust, others defended Guildford, arguing he was removed for fulfilling his duty rather than for any failure. Deputy Chief Constable Scott Green will serve as acting chief, with efforts underway to address concerns and restore confidence in the police force.