He may look like he has just left school but Dan Paine is 24 and has taken on a top police job in Brighton.

Dan is the first full-time Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) to be stationed at Brighton Marina.

Dan admitted he gets his leg pulled about how young he looks but he gives as good as he gets.

He said: "I don't mind really. I'm always up for a laugh.

"I do get asked for my ID now and then - I just show them my warrant card."

But Dan, one-time baker and former pupil at Dorothy Stringer School in Brighton, takes his job very seriously.

He was a regular policeman for 18 months but switched to being a PCSO because, he said, he wanted to spend more time out in the community.

He said: "I didn't like all the paperwork involved with being a regular."

And he is enjoying his new role.

He said: "The marina is a town within a city and it's great getting to know everyone in it."

Inspector Andy Richardson said: "The marina has its own security and we wanted to integrate with them.

"The marina responded positively by providing us space in their security office."

Car break-ins and thefts were once a major problem at the marina.

But all offences have plummeted and the crime rate is now lower than in most other areas of Brighton and Hove.

The marina is home to 800 residents, 1,500 berth holders plus retail and office staff.

Colin Tribe, head of marina security, said: "We have 17 full-time security officers and a security system operating 24-7.

"Plus we have CCTV cameras linked to the police station.

"We only have very low-level problems here now.

"This is a really nice and safe place for families to visit and for people to work in."

So why the need for a PCSO? Mr Tribe said: "It brings added quality to security and provides us with a closer link with the police so we can work in partnership."