Police inspector charged with possessing indecent images of children

A police inspector has been charged with possessing indecent images of children.

Lee Bartram, of West Midlands Police, was arrested at home on Monday and charged on Wednesday evening, the force said in a statement.

He is charged with five counts of making an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child, and two counts of distributing an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child.

It is understood the alleged offences are not said to have been committed while he was on duty.

Insp Bartram is based in Birmingham city centre.

He is due to appear before Walsall and Aldridge Magistrates’ Court on Thursday morning.

The 44-year-old has been suspended from West Midlands Police while proceedings are underway, the force added.

It has voluntarily referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the successor to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.