Senior counter terrorism police officer admits leaving confidential documents in car for five days before they were stolen

Marcus Beale admitted charge of failing to safeguard information under Official Secrets Act

Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale held West Midlands Police’s security portfolio (West Midlands Police)

Senior West Midlands police officer Marcus Beale has admitted leaving confidential documents in a car four or five days before they were stolen.

Mr Beale, 54, who was the counter terrorism lead for West Midlands police, put the papers in a locked case in an unmarked police car.

The case and other personal items were stolen from the vehicle in May.

Mr Beale was suspended from duty and appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he admitted the charge of failing to safeguard information under the Official Secrets Act.

He joined West Midlands police in 2011 and held West Midlands Police’s security portfolio, with responsibility for the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit.

Press Association