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Kent's ex-youth tsar Paris Brown will not be prosecuted

Youth Crime Commissioner Paris Brown quits.
Youth Crime Commissioner Paris Brown quits.

Paris Brown, on the day of her resignation, with police and crime commissioner Ann Barnes

by Lynn Cox

Former youth police tsar Paris Brown - said to have been questioned by police about her controversial Twitter comments - will face no further action.

Paris Brown, 17, resigned as police youth commissioner earlier this month amid controversy over tweets posted before she was taken on by Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Ann Barnes.

Over the weekend it was claimed in national newspapers that the teenager's mobile phone was seized and she was questioned by officers from force's Special Branch.

Her lawyers are said to have described the police response as "wholly disproportionate" and claimed it was "inconceivable" that her comments would be sufficient grounds for prosecution.

Officers started investigating Miss Brown after discovering she used a racial slur in her Twitter profile.

Kent youth police commissioner Paris Brown with Ann Barnes
Kent youth police commissioner Paris Brown with Ann Barnes

Paris Brown and Ann Barnes after her appointment was made

The force also received around 50 complaints about her tweets.

She publicly resigned after it was revealed she used her personal Twitter account to make a series of offensive and allegedly racist and homophobic posts.

But a spokesman for police has now said no further action will be taken against Miss Brown.

The spokesman added: "Having received complaints in relation to Paris Brown's comments on Twitter, Kent Police, as it is duty-bound in the event of allegation of criminal activity, undertook an investigation to ascertain whether any offences had been committed as was alleged.

"Whilst some of the language used is offensive, particularly the comments which derogatorily refer to particular social groups, we do not believe that in the context they are grossly offensive on a reasonable objective assessment considering intent.

"We have spoken to the CPS about our findings, and given them our view that this case does not pass the evidential threshold for prosecution; we will make no recommendations to them for charges and will take no further police action having discharged our duty to investigate."

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