A significant milestone in community safety and partnership working has been marked with Devon’s first Tri-Service Safety Officer (TSSO) officially launched in Holsworthy.
Members of the community recently joined representatives from Devon & Cornwall Police, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, the NHS, and local authorities to celebrate the occasion.
The TSSO role is a pioneering collaboration between police, fire, and health services, designed to enhance early intervention, prevention, and support for vulnerable individuals.
This innovative model – which is unique to Devon and Cornwall and is hoped to be replicated across the country in the future – began as a pilot in Hayle, Cornwall, in 2014, and has already expanded to 15 full-time roles across Cornwall.
Working across services, TSSOs respond to issues from a multi-agency perspective. Whether fitting smoke alarms during police welfare checks, making health referrals, or linking residents with local support services, TSSOs offer a smarter, more joined-up way to keep people safe. They are also trained retained firefighters and community responders for the ambulance service—though this emergency response work makes up less than 10% of their time.
The Holsworthy launch highlights growing momentum and recognition of the role’s value. Two independent evaluations have shown that TSSOs reduce frontline demand, improve individual outcomes, and build stronger, safer communities —particularly in more deprived areas where services often support the same individuals.
Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez praised the expansion of the role into Devon: “I’m delighted to see the Tri-Service Safety Officer role now established in Holsworthy. This is a forward-thinking, community-focused solution that’s proven to work. By combining the expertise of police, fire, and health, TSSOs are so much more than the sum of their parts, making a real difference on the ground – keeping people safe, supporting the vulnerable, and improving lives.”
Holsworthy’s new TSSO is paramedic and on-call firefighter Chloe. She is already proving to be an essential part of the local community by not just helping out during emergency incidents but also carrying out vital preventative, awareness and wellbeing work with vulnerable people.
She said: “In my previous roles, I could only deal with one element according to the service I was with – but now I can combine all three areas of police, fire, and health to support individuals. It is satisfying because you can follow through their journey from start to finish with interventions and monitoring their progress.”
Chloe and her fellow colleagues were bestowed high praise at the launch event by inspector and TSSO project lead Miles Topham of Devon & Cornwall Police.
He said: “This project has been going on for just over 10 years in Cornwall where it has proven its worth and is making a significant difference. It is really exciting to welcome Chloe into Devon and hopefully TSSOs will expand further into Devon as well as regionally and nationally.”
Gerald Taylor, acting deputy chief fire officer for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: “When we were approached to launch a TSSO in Devon it was a no brainer and Holsworthy is the ideal location because of its sparsity.
“Chloe is phenomenal and is just perfect for the community, especially the work she does around fire safety and prevention, stopping incidents from happening in the first place.”
Ashley Mann, operations manager for South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, added: “It is such an honour and a privilege to see the inception of TSSOs reaching from the border of Cornwall into Devon with all services working as one, and hopefully we will see TSSOs develop and grow through Devon over the years to come.”
Former High Sheriff of Cornwall Sam Galsworthy attended the launch to present the generous and unique donation of a Civil War breastplate from his home that has been turned into a trophy which will be awarded annually to the TSSO of the Year.
He said: “I was completely overwhelmed when I heard how the TSSOs came to be and the role they play. It is my privilege to present this award to all three services in recognition of the TSSOs.”
The TSSO model has earned widespread support, including executive endorsement from all emergency services in Cornwall and backing from MPs. In 2024, former MP for Newquay and St Austell Steve Double raised the initiative in Parliament during an adjournment debate, calling for national expansion. A visit to Westminster followed, with the Tri-Service team receiving full support from the then Fire and Police Minister.
The launch in Holsworthy, which was attended by guests including the High Sheriff of Devon and pupils from Holsworthy Church of England Primary School, signals a new chapter in public safety and collaboration for Devon, setting the stage for future growth of this innovative and impactful role.