Counter terrorism officer fined for security breach

A senior counter terrorism officer who left top secret papers in his car while he went on holiday before they were stolen has been fined.

Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale, who was the counter terrorism lead for West Midlands Police, left the documents in a locked case in the boot of the vehicle for four or five days.

The papers, which included information about counter terrorism intelligence and investigations, were stolen from the unmarked police car in May.

Beale, 54, was fined £3,500 at Westminster Magistrates' Court today.