Holsworthy welcomes Devon’s first Tri-Service Safety Officer

A major milestone in public safety and emergency services collaboration has been reached in Devon with the official launch of the county’s first Tri-Service Safety Officer (TSSO) in Holsworthy.

The new role, which brings together the police, fire, and health services under one uniform, was celebrated at a launch event attended by local residents, school pupils, and representatives from Devon & Cornwall Police, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, the NHS, and local authorities.

The Tri-Service Safety Officer scheme is a trailblazing initiative, first piloted in Hayle, Cornwall in 2014, that has since expanded to 15 full-time posts across Cornwall. Holsworthy is now the first Devon town to benefit from the unique community-focused role, which is designed to boost early intervention, prevention, and targeted support for vulnerable individuals.

The newly appointed TSSO for Holsworthy is 28-year-old Chloe Townsend, a former paramedic and on-call firefighter. Chloe’s work blends frontline response with preventative action—ranging from fitting smoke alarms during police welfare checks to supporting residents through health and wellbeing referrals. She also serves as a retained firefighter and community first responder, although emergency response makes up less than 10% of her work.

“In my previous roles, I could only address one part of a person’s needs,” said Chloe. “Now, I can support them across policing, fire safety, and health, and see their journey through from start to finish. That’s incredibly rewarding.”

The TSSO model has already proven effective. Two independent evaluations show that it reduces demand on frontline services, improves outcomes for vulnerable residents, and strengthens community safety, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, praised the launch: “This is a forward-thinking, community-based solution that works. TSSOs bring together the best of three emergency services into one cohesive role. It’s about keeping people safe, preventing harm, and improving lives.”

Inspector Miles Topham, project lead for the TSSO initiative in Devon and Cornwall Police, commented: “After more than a decade of success in Cornwall, it’s fantastic to see the programme extend into Devon. Chloe is doing brilliant work already, and we hope this is just the beginning.”

Gerald Taylor, Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said Holsworthy’s rural nature made it the perfect launch site: “This role is all about early prevention, and Chloe’s already proving to be an asset in keeping this community safer and better informed.”

Ashley Mann, Operations Manager at South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, called the development “a privilege,” highlighting the unique collaboration that the role fosters between all emergency services.

The launch event also included a symbolic moment: Sam Galsworthy, former High Sheriff of Cornwall, presented a historic Civil War breastplate, repurposed into a trophy, which will now be awarded annually to the TSSO of the Year.

“I was overwhelmed when I heard about the impact of TSSOs,” said Galsworthy. “It’s an honour to present this award in recognition of their extraordinary service.”

The Holsworthy launch was attended by local dignitaries, including the High Sheriff of Devon, and students from Holsworthy Church of England Primary School.