Calls grow for teenage crime tsar to resign

Paris Brown, 17, wrote violent, racist and anti-gay comments on her feed before she became the first youth PCC for Kent on £15,000 a year to represent young people’s views on policing.

She has made a tearful apology for the offensive tweets, which included references to taking drugs, that were posted by her from the ages of 14 to 16, but have now been deleted.

Miss Brown, from Sheerness, Kent, was appointed to the post last week by Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Ann Barnes, who continued yesterday to defend the teenager, saying the appointment last week was not a gimmick.

“I am going to stand by her and I am going to try and help work through this,” she said.

But South Thanet Conservative MP Laura Sandys said on Twitter: “Paris Brown should step down as youth crime Tsar for Kent... Gimmicks always backfire.”

Fellow Kent Tory MP Damian Collins also called for the teenager to go. The member for Folkestone and Hythe said: “I do not think the role should have been created in the first place.

“She is going to be under constant pressure to explain what she meant and it’s best that this young person should rebuild her life away from intense media scrutiny.

Labour’s Home Affairs Select Committee chairman Keith Vaz also has called for Miss Brown to resign.