Statement following Mail on Sunday article regarding Paris Brown
Reacting to the media comment today concerning the recent appointment of Paris Brown as the UK’s First Youth Police and Crime Commissioner, Kent PCC Ann Barnes said: ‘I absolutely do not condone the content and language of Paris' tweets. I suspect that many young people go through a phase during which they make silly, often offensive comments and show off on Facebook and Twitter. I think that if everyone’s future was determined by what they wrote on social networking sites between the ages of 14 and 16 we’d live in a very odd world. I also suspect that thousands of parents would be at best surprised and at worst deeply shocked and ashamed if they looked into the social networking of their children.

‘Many will say that Paris has simply been through a phase, however unfortunate, that many teenagers go through. Thousands of people have already seen and heard this young lady articulate her ideas and been impressed by her maturity and her commitment during challenging interviews on the national and local media before this story broke. She has said herself that young people grow up very quickly these days and it's often difficult for them. This is a very difficult time for her personally, but she will learn quickly from this and rapidly mature into the confident young person we are already seeing.

‘As for the more general calls in some of the media about the role of Commissioners and what they are offering I would add this. The idea of a Youth Commissioner was born out of my long experience in the world of Policing, as a teacher and as a parent. There is a growing gap between younger people and the Police and others agencies of law enforcement. Young people are too often demonised by certain elements in the press and are often criticised mercilessly. This new post is a practical step aimed at engaging with them. It is not a ‘gimmick’. It formed part of my election manifesto which the people of Kent supported and voted for and which I am honour bound to see into being. This initiative stands alongside the other substantial steps that I am taking in the County. I have already boosted Police and police community support officers, the first investment in the Force for some years. I am about to introduce a fleet of mobile Police Stations to increase Police presence in our rural areas. People will make their own judgement about the approach of the Mail on Sunday who have chosen to highlight just one facet of their very long and very detailed interview with Paris.’

Paris Brown, Youth Police and Crime Commissioner said:

"I deeply apologise for any offence caused by my use of inappropriate language and for any inference of inappropriate views. I am not homophobic, racist or violent and am against the taking of drugs. If I’m guilty of anything it’s showing off and wildly exaggerating on Twitter and I am very ashamed of myself, but I can’t imagine that I’m the only teenager to have done this. Just as one example, the line about ‘Hash Brownies’ is a reference to a Scooby Doo film. I have a genuine interest in working with young people as demonstrated by my current work as an apprentice for a local authority helping teenagers in a local community."