MPs have raised concerns over the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and information-sharing in local decision-making following last year’s ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv FC fans from an Aston Villa match.
The Home Affairs Committee found that risk assessments prepared by West Midlands Police included inaccurate and unverified material, including AI-generated content, which was presented to Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG).
The committee concluded that the SAG—a multi-agency forum coordinated by the city council to advise on public safety—may have been ‘unduly influenced by political pressure’ and lacked the capacity to scrutinise police evidence effectively. Councillors were found to have a ‘disproportionate opportunity to exert influence,’ raising concerns that decisions were driven by politics rather than evidence.
As part of its review of guidance for Safety Advisory Groups, the committee recommended that the Cabinet Office end the practice of councillors sitting on SAGs to strengthen impartiality and public trust.
Cllr John Cotton, leader of Birmingham City Council, commented: ‘We welcome this thorough report, and I thank the committee for their diligent work.’
A statement from WMP said: ‘We remain fully committed to learning from these events and have already made early efforts through a series of meetings with key local representatives to repair any damage caused by the loss of confidence that the public has in us.’
