IT was confirmed yesterday that district and county Councillor David Carroll will be made Deputy Police Commissioner amid controversy over the unelected role.

Following the election of Anthony Stansfeld as the Thames Valley Police Commissioner last month he has appointed Cllr Carroll as his deputy.

This has prompted criticism from some who say the role should be elected and money is being wasted on paying deputies as well as office staff.

A Sunday paper reported Cllr Carroll, who is also Wycombe District Council deputy leader and a Buckinghamshire County Councillor, would be paid £35,000 for 22 hours a week.

But yesterday Cllr Carroll said he believes he has the background and the knowledge to take on the role.

He said his salary is up to the police commissioner to decide and said: "He offered me the job. I was quite happy. It was quite an honour to take it. The rest of it doesn't matter to me."

Mr Stansfeld told the Free Press: "Thames Valley is a huge area of which I live in one corner, so I needed someone who lived towards the other end and someone who understands the police and policing issues.

"David was part of the Police Authority and Chairman of the Complaints and Professional Standards Committee, so he has that experience and, also with him being a democratically elected county and district councillor, he will know the issues and concerns in Buckinghamshire."

Cllr Carroll said his police experience goes back 25 years when he was made a magistrate in 1987. He said he then worked on community engagement with the police, adding he was asked to sit on the police authority three and a half years ago, and then made chairman of the complaints committee.

Cllr Carroll said: "I have worked on all that stuff. You can see why he elected me."

Questions were also raised by WDC Cllr Trevor Snaith on how he could hold down his two council roles. He said: "It seems quite bizarre especially as he'll now have to declare interest in so many things he could become ineffectual."

But Cllr Carroll said the role would not affect his position as a councillor. He will meet with WDC leader Alex Collingwood to discuss the options and an announcement will be made next week.

Mr Stansfeld added: "A Sunday newspaper said we were great pals but that’s not the case, I’ve never been to his house, he’s never been to mine, I only know him from working on the Police Authority, nothing more."