Two new Tri-Service Safety Officers (TSSOs) have been appointed in Camborne and Penzance.
One officer will serve each area, bringing a unique set of skills to bolster local efforts to tackle antisocial behaviour and enhance community safety.
The TSSO role combines expertise from the three emergency services: police, fire and NHS. With comprehensive training across all three services, TSSOs are equipped to deliver early intervention, prevention, and an operational response. Their versatile work also includes problem solving through multi-agency collaboration.
Jointly funded by the NHS, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service (via Cornwall Council), and Devon & Cornwall Police, the TSSO roles are part of a broader commitment to community safety. The police contribution for these two new roles is funded through hotspot policing, a Home Office initiative which Devon & Cornwall Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner secured funding for.
As part of their duties, TSSOs will undertake dedicated hotspot patrols, aimed at deterring and disrupting crime through foot patrols in key areas. These patrols will also enable impactful engagement with residents, businesses and visitors.
Inspector Dee Evans, who leads Penzance’s neighbourhood policing team, said: “We are excited to welcome Andrew as our new Tri-Service Safety Officer. His experience and training will be a huge asset to Penzance. The hotspot patrols have made a real difference to the town centre and having a TSSO on board means we can have even greater visibility in the right areas.”
Andrew Martyn, Penzance’s new TSSO, said: “Joining the team at Penzance is something I’m really proud of. In my previous location I have found the role really beneficial to the community. Due to Penzance being a larger town, it will perhaps require an even more dynamic approach, with lots of multi-agency collaborating and utilising the best resources available. I am very much looking forward to serving the community, meeting the town’s business owners and residents and chatting with shoppers on my hotspot patrols.”
Street marshal patrols are already being successfully delivered in Camborne and Penzance as part of hotspot policing. The addition of TSSOs will further strengthen hotspot policing efforts, providing an extra resource to deter unwanted activity. The officers will be based at the local police stations, where they will work closely with the neighbourhood policing teams, often conducting joint patrols.
Yasmin Matthews, Camborne’s new TSSO, said: “I am really thrilled to join the team at Camborne as a Tri-Service Safety Officer. Working alongside colleagues in Police, Fire and Health to problem solve complex issues in a smart and efficient way is something that I find rewarding. I previously worked in a rural location, so I am looking forward to working in a busier area and utilising the additional resources this brings.
“In my previous location I saw how my role really benefitted the community. I will be working closely with Cornwall’s Anti-Social Behaviour team, people can expect to see me patrolling on foot to tackle some of the issues in Camborne and provide reassurance. I am very proud to do the role and very much look forward to serving the community of Camborne.”
Inspector Louisa Brown, who oversees the neighbourhood policing team in Camborne, said: “Yasmin’s appointment as Camborne’s Tri-Service Safety Officer is a welcome addition to our local team. The TSSO role offers a fantastic opportunity for joint working across the emergency services. Yasmin’s broad skill set has already proven to be really beneficial and I look forward to continuing our ongoing work to increase community safety.”
There are now 15 full-time TSSO positions in Cornwall.