West Mids Police Chief Suspended

8 November 2017, 10:45 | Updated: 8 November 2017, 10:54

A top police officer is due to appear in court accused of an offence under the Official Secrets Act.

It comes after he allegedly failed to safeguard sensitive documents which were stolen from an unmarked police car.

Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale, of West Midlands Police, has received a court summons over the alleged offence in May.

The Metropolitan Police, which independently investigated  the case on behalf of West Midlands Police, said he'll appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on December 7th.

A Met Police spokesman said: "On Tuesday, 7 November, the Metropolitan Police Service summonsed a West Midlands officer for an offence under the Official Secrets Act relating to failure to safeguard sensitive documents.

"The summons relates to a Metropolitan Police investigation into the alleged failure to safeguard sensitive documents after items were stolen from an unmarked police car in May.

"A number of personal belongings were taken during the theft, along with a locked box containing documents relating to police matters. The theft from the vehicle is being investigated locally."

Back in May The Met said: "We are not prepared to discuss the content of those documents for security reasons."