Chris Cully, the Managing Director of risk & security management company, Dilitas writes exclusively for Infologue.com on the shortlived role of the UK’s first Youth Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC), Paris Brown.
Chris writes: “On the 9th April 2013, Paris Brown, the UK’s first Youth Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) resigned, following criticism of postings on her Twitter feed some years before.”
“Having been in the £15,000 per annum position for no more than a week, Miss Brown’s resignation brings to an end a highly embarrassing period for Ann Barnes, the recently appointed PCC for the Kent Constabulary. Miss Brown said she was “quitting in the interests of the young people of Kent”. It is debateable whether the “young people of Kent” gave two hoots that she had resigned or indeed, that she was appointed to the role in the first place.”
“In a final twist to this fiasco, Kent police announced they are now investigating Miss Brown and her Tweets to see if they are considered criminal offences. According to the BBC News web site, Miss Brown said, “I accept that I have made comments on social networking sites which have offended many people. I am really sorry for any offence caused. I strongly reiterate that I am not racist or homophobic.”
“I can hear my old parent PC quoting the phrase, “Not much of a defence. I’m glad I’m not following her into the Box!”
“Ann Barnes was quoted as saying, “Miss Brown’s tweets were not vetted before she was appointed but she was an “enthusiastic young woman with exceptional skills” who had performed well in a “very tough” interview process. The events of the past few days had strengthened her desire to create the youth PCC post and she had no plans to resign.”
“The vision of police officers across the UK falling about in helpless, derisory laughter dances before our eyes! Should Miss Barnes be suicidal enough to re-appoint somebody else to the role of Youth Police & Crime Commissioner, she would be well advised to appoint those who know how to conduct stringent due diligence and how to interview. There are a vast amount of such individuals who have resigned and retired from the Police before the end is nigh, whom I am sure would be willing to provide some practical advice and application, which was clearly missing in the first appointment process.”
“Miss Barnes is currently advertising on her website, the position of Chief of Staff, with a £90K salary, “to help her deliver her wide ranging & dynamic plans for her role in Kent. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are a given. The key attribute will be the ability to ‘Inspire’ ”. I am sure, dear reader, that like us, you can hardly contain your excitement to see whom she will select for this position. It is also interesting to consider if she has considered withdrawing the pointless role of Chief of Staff and giving the £90K to Kent police to fund more bobbies on the beat or support services and we don’t mean more Civvies!”
“The creation of Police & Crime Commissioners (PCC) was met with the single most apathetic response by the peoples of the UK, in the history of British Politics, with the majority of the Country not knowing or caring what a PCC is and only a tiny minority bothering to vote for one.”
“Whilst the role of the PCC is designed, apparently, to achieve great things, it is clearly yet another massive interference into British policing which serves no real purpose, other than to add impetus to the escalating train wreck which British policing is fast becoming.”
“If nothing else, Miss Barnes and her failed protégé, Miss Brown, have provided the role of PCC with more profile than the political buffoons who created the role. We wait with baited breath for the next instalment of the Kent PCC’s advancing empire.”
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