West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Simon Foster has hit back at politicians demanding summary justice, declaring that policing is "not an episode of The Apprentice" and explaining why he could not instantly sack Chief Constable Craig Guildford.

The controversy stems from the disastrous decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a match against Aston Villa, a move based on what has now been revealed as "exaggerated intelligence" and "confirmation bias." While Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood publicly declared she had "lost confidence" in Guildford, the Chief Constable ultimately "retired" rather than being fired.

The Legal Handcuffs

Facing an accountability board on Tuesday, Foster expressed frustration with the "fiction and unreality" peddled by MPs and the media. He clarified that a PCC does not have the power to point a finger across a desk and say, "You're fired."

"There is a lawful process," Foster insisted. "To summarily sack a Chief Constable on the spot is illegal. It requires due process, consultation with the inspectorate, and adherence to employment law."

• The Investigation: Despite the retirement, Guildford has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for investigation.
• The Intelligence Failure: The ban was justified by claims of safety threats that the watchdog found were overstated, leading to accusations that the police capitulated to political pressure or bias.
• The Fallout: The incident has severely damaged relations with the Jewish community in Birmingham and raised questions about the competence of the force's intelligence unit.

Retirement vs. Accountability

Critics argue that allowing Guildford to "retire" is a cop-out that allows him to preserve his pension and reputation. Foster counters that the retirement achieved the necessary outcome—Guildford's departure—without a protracted and expensive legal battle that the force might have lost.

However, the referral to the IOPC ensures that the book is not yet closed. If the investigation finds gross misconduct, further sanctions could theoretically follow. For now, the West Midlands Police is left picking up the pieces of a reputation shattered by a single, poorly evidenced decision.

Foster's defense highlights a structural tension in British policing: the gap between political accountability (what the Home Secretary wants) and legal reality (what the PCC can actually do). In this gap, public confidence often falls through.