Simon Furlong has taken up the mantle of Chief Fire Officer for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Mr Furlong previously served as deputy under former Chief Dave Etheridge OBE, who retired at the end of March.

He has also been appointed Oxfordshire County Council’s Director of Community Safety, covering road safety, business continuity, gypsy and traveller services, emergency planning and trading standards.

Mr Furlong began working as a whole-time firefighter in 1990 in West Sussex, progressing through the ranks and first joining Oxfordshire's fire service in 2012 as Assistant Chief Fire Officer.

He said: “I am extremely proud. I believe we are in a strong position to face the challenges ahead and to deliver real benefits to all our communities, working together with colleagues in the county council.

“We have highly professional fire and rescue and community safety services here in Oxfordshire and I feel very honoured to be given the opportunity to lead such dedicated staff. 

"Everyone who delivers our services, from firefighters to emergency planning officers to support staff, play an integral part in delivering our vision of ‘working together every day to save and improve the lives of the people across Oxfordshire’ and remain fully committed to doing so."

He added that one of his key aims as Director of Community Safety would be to increase the diversity of the workforce.