West Midlands Police chiefs ‘lied’ over Tel Aviv fans Birmingham ban, Parliament told

Amid the ongoing row, which has seen accusations of a plot to turn Birmingham “into a no-go area for Jewish people”, there have been mounting calls for the embattled chief constable of the force to be sacked.

Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group (Sag) took the decision to bar supporters of the Israeli team from the Europa League game at Aston Villa last month, citing security concerns based on police advice.

The move sparked political outrage with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer “angered by the decision”.

Since then doubts have been growing over the intelligence used by police, including disputes over the accuracy of information and allegations it used artificial intelligence to come to its conclusions involving a fictitious game.

The force has also been warned over misleading Parliament after evidence given to a select committee by Assistant Chief Constable Mike O’Hara in which he said the police had been told by members of the Jewish community they did not want Maccabi fans to attend the match.

West Midlands Police subsequently issued a statement of clarification which read: “It was never the intention of the officer to imply that there were members of the Jewish community who had explicitly expressed support for the exclusion of Maccabi fans.”

In the wake of the controversy, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has already ordered the policing watchdog to examine how forces in England and Wales provide risk assessments to safety advisory groups, which inform on measures around high-profile events.

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) will also provide a specific update on the intelligence gathered by West Midlands Police and the way it was used, by the end of this year.

Raising his concerns at Westminster, Tory peer Lord Polak said: “How is it remotely acceptable for police leaders in the West Midlands to fabricate a report… with a made-up meeting, a made-up match?

“They have lied to a parliamentary select committee.

“Basically, they have yielded to the mob, shamefully led by Ayoub Khan MP.”

Responding, Home Office minister Lord Hanson of Flint said: “Any suggestion that intelligence gathering or community engagement led by West Midlands Police was anything other than the highest standard would be a matter of great concern, but I hope he will accept that the Home Secretary has understood that concern and has commissioned a report, and I think it is fair and proper that we await the findings of that report before we take any further potential action.”

He pointed out the chief constable was ultimately responsible to the locally elected police and crime commissioner (PCC).

Earlier, Labour former minister Lord Hunt of Kings Heath said: “The decision of the safety committee in relation to the Maccabi fans coming to Birmingham was a mistake, but it seems to have been based on very flawed evidence from the West Midlands Police force.”

He added: “I think we’ve reached the point where there is considerable doubt about the integrity of the leadership of the West Midlands Police force. And I would say to the Government, I understand all these reports and due process, but actually I think action has to be taken.”

In reply, Lord Hanson said it was for the PCC “to determine whether or not they wish to take any further action”.

Highlighting the report by HMICFRS, he added: “I think it’s better that I wait for the outcome of the report that we’ve commissioned before I comment in detail on any of the potential allegations that have been made around this.”