A 23-year-old former teaching assistant has been appointed as new Youth Ambassador by Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner.
Dominic Rogers has been chosen for the £25,000-a-year job, which has been criticised by some as a waste of public money.
However Cheshire PCC John Dwyer has defended the appointment.
Mr Dwyer said: “I have been criticised by some for seeking to make this appointment but I developed the role profile and job description with partner organisations such as Youth Offending Services, Catch 22, Youth Groups and local councils.
“I also sought the views of young people and it is clear I need someone to represent the voices of the 23% of the population in Cheshire who are under 18 (almost 238,000 residents).
“Recent events have made me reflect on the need for the appointment and I am conscious that young people facing difficult circumstances and those at risk from harm need a way to make themselves heard.
“I feel the money being invested in the salary of the Youth Ambassador is public money being used to protect our young people and involve them in developing improvements to policing we will all benefit from.”
Mr Dwyer feels the Youth Ambassador can work with young people to prevent them becoming victims and improve personal safety, internet security, online child exploitation, attitudes to drugs and alcohol and driver safety.
He will also work with hundreds of first time offenders entering the criminal justice system under the age of 18 to reduce re-offending and understand what motivates them to turn to crime.
“This is not something I could ask a volunteer to do,” he added.
“This is a full time role which asks for weekend and evening work with youth groups and organisations as well as working with schools and partners during the day.”
Mr Rogers worked with young people with special needs and emotional and behavioural problems as a learning support assistant at Wilmslow High School, in youth centres, and as a football coach.
He said: “The selection process to become Youth Ambassador was rigorous and included a presentation to a panel of 8 young people who were very challenging in their questions.
“I feel the experience and skills I have developed working with young people and adults will allow me to be successful in the role.”
This does look like a waste of money but then, so does the whole P&CC set-up. Mr Dwyer has been in place for several months now. Has anybody noticed anything usefully different about how Cheshire Police goes about its work? I can’t say that I have. I read carefully the CP public leaflet which comes out periodically so I would have noticed any differences.