A police force yesterday defended its decision to recruit two 16-year-olds as community support officers despite others declaring they would not employ anyone so young.

Thames Valley Police insisted the pair of teenagers had been given the job because they had the necessary skills and that "if you are good enough, you are old enough".

But other forces said they only employed Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) aged 18 and above and questioned how someone younger could have the life experience to do the job.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said he "could not imagine" that his force would recruit anyone so young and that no one aged 16 was working as a PCSO in the counties it covered.

In the North-East, Northumbria Police said they did not employ anyone under 18 as a PCSO, but the Cleveland force said applications from 16-year-olds would be treated the same as anyone else's. The Durham force said its youngest PCSO was 18.

The two 16-year-olds working for Thames Valley Police are undergoing training.

Depending on their role, they will have the authority to detain suspects until a police officer arrives, issue penalty notices, deal with minor offences, and guard crime scenes.

They will also be able to confiscate alcohol consumed in a public place despite being two years below the legal drinking age, and direct traffic and remove vehicles even though they are too young to drive.

A Thames Valley spokeswoman said yesterday: "We have recruited these people because they demonstrated the skills that we need.

"They bring experience of being able to interact with the public, especially young people. If you are good enough you are old enough."

She added: "There is no reason in law why PCSOs who are under 18 cannot exercise powers under the Police Reform Act and being able to drive is not a requirement to become a PCSO."

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "PCSOs are an invaluable addition to the police forces.

"Police staff numbers are historically high and this, among other measures, has led to crime falling by a third over the last ten years."