First youth crime commissioner appointed

Paris Brown will take up the role in Kent this summer after being chosen from a total of 164 applicants, and will work alongside the county’s police and crime commissioner Ann Barnes.

Paris has highlighted her priorities as campaigning for activities for young people, getting young people into work and improving relations between police and young people.

“I’m really excited and I can’t wait to start,” she said. “I’m really pleased that I have been offered this opportunity and I’m looking forward to getting out there to work with young people as soon as I can.”

The position was part of the manifesto pledge of Barnes, who was elected as Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner following elections across England and Wales last November.

Barnes is subsidising the £15k salary for the position with £5,000 from her own £85,000 salary. The office of the commissioner in Kent will fund the remainder.

She said: “I’m delighted that Paris will be working alongside me to build a bridge between the world of young people and policing.

“This will be a hands-on role and I’ll be relying on Paris to guide my office on how we can deliver a better service for all young people in the county and tackle youth offending.”

Paris, who comes from Sheerness, will take up the position on completion of an apprenticeship within the commissioning and open spaces department at Swale Borough Council.

She will spend her time giving talks and liaising with youth groups, youth offending teams, schools and colleges.