A senior West Midlands Police officer who was convicted of failing to safeguard sensitive documents has been dismissed from the force.

Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale, who was formerly the force's head of counter-terrorism, was previously fined after admitting an offence under the Official Secrets Act at Westminster Magistrates Court.

A subsequent special case hearing at Lloyd House in Birmingham, found ACC Beale guilty of gross misconduct and recommended his dismissal without notice.

The recommendations were enforced by Chief Constable Dave Thompson at a hearing yesterday.