Following his appearance before the Home Affairs Committee today, 1 December 2025, Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster said:
“I was pleased to answer questions from members of the Parliamentary Home Affairs Committee this afternoon. The Aston Villa fixture with Maccabi Tel Aviv on 6 November 2025 has become a subject of wide public debate.
“I respect MPs’ interest in understanding the process and decisions that took place, whether in West Midlands Police, the UK Football Policing Unit, the Birmingham City Council Safety Advisory Group, the Home Office or indeed No. 10.
“I would be happy to answer any written follow up questions and look forward to receiving and considering the committee’s findings and any recommendations.
“The government has announced that His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue will undertake two reviews, one looking at how policing generally engages with local authority Safety Advisory Groups, and another, a ‘rapid review’, examining the intelligence that informed the recommendation West Midlands Police made to the Birmingham City Council Safety Advisory Group.
“I expect West Midlands Police to fully engage with both these reviews, particularly the ‘rapid review’ given the very tight timetable that government has set, and its specific focus on our area.
“However, I note that West Midlands Police has already been part of a previous operational rapid review of its approach to policing the fixture by the UK Football Policing Unit, which covered very similar ground.
“The Policing Minister also announced that the Cabinet Office is undertaking a review of Safety Advisory Group guidance and terms of reference. I see much merit in a review of local civil contingency arrangements that clarifies, but also supports appropriate local democratic oversight, that aligns with the government’s wider devolution agenda. It would be a mistake if Whitehall started to assume ‘it knows best’ when it comes to local operational decisions.
“It is also important to understand that it is I, as Police and Crime Commissioner, not Parliament, the Home Office or HMICFRS, that has the statutory responsibility, to hold the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police to account.
“I will therefore be requesting a report on the fixture to a public meeting of my Accountability and Governance Board on 27 January 2026, when I will take the opportunity to ask further questions of the Chief Constable on behalf of the people of the West Midlands.
“The Home Affairs Committee’s questions covered many issues, but I was particularly pleased to have the opportunity to draw their attention to the conclusion in the Dutch Inspectorate of Justice and Security report into the riots in Amsterdam that accompanied the Ajax v Maccabi Tel Aviv match on 7-8 November 2024. The conclusion, which bears repeating in full, has much wisdom from which all can learn:
“What’s striking is the speed with which strong words were used in the aftermath of the events. Politicians, administrators, and the media jumped to conclusions, without a clear understanding of what had actually happened. They spoke of failed action, negligence, or, conversely, of an incomprehensible tolerance. Such judgments, delivered before the facts are complete, influence public sentiment and directly affect the police officers who were on the streets. Many of them worked long shifts, sometimes exceeding fifteen hours, in a dynamic that defies a single narrative.
“These events demonstrate the challenges of maintaining order in a society where local tensions are fuelled by global conflicts. Digital appeals can mobilize groups with lightning speed, and expectations about police action vary. Balancing enforcement and freedom remains a difficult task, especially when reality unfolds faster than preconceived scenarios. This requires a sharp assessment of the facts, a flexible approach in the moment, and careful reflection afterward—not only on police action but also on the speed with which judgments are made.”
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