Hi I'm new to this site, but I have to vent to someone..........................

    Last year about this time the powers that be closed my job here in Los Angeles (Housing Police Department). I, having a Welsh girlfriend (she lives in the West Midlands) and loving most things British, decided it would be a great time to move to the UK. I inquired about different Visa'a and work permits ....I do have 18 years experience as a Police Officer on both coasts. I had a Police Department tell me I was just as well hired if I could become a " Citizen without Restrictions" I have asked everyone except Tony Blair and all I get is a round robin.....I get no answer or I get something like " Why the hell would you want to live in the UK?" I could live in the UK...but!!!!! I couldn't work in the UK.....I was told that I'm American too...I think that means that I'm really well off and can stay in the UK for three years with no job......Can anyone tell me why I'm being treated like some Third World Terrorist when all I wanted to do in the UK is live and serve the community?

Hiya Billy, welcome to UKY.  I'm sorry to hear that you are having problems finding out how to become a police officer in the UK.

I've had a look at this website and as far as I can tell, you don't *have* to be citizen to become a police officer, but you do have to be a resident free of immigration restrictions.

Are you and your girlfriend close to marriage?  If so, you could potentially be free of immigration restrictions as soon as two years.  You would be eligible to work in other jobs until your two years are up, then apply to be a police officer.

Surely the UK gov't doesn't think you're a terrorist.  See it from the UK gov't point of view.  The UK is already a crowded country, and it is under severe pressure from people trying to get in from Britain's many former colonies, as well as from Iraq, Eastern Europe, and China.  So to go to the UK to work, you have to qualify under one of these categories:

http://www.britainusa.com/visas/other_show.asp?SarticleType=25&Other_ID=616

Looks like the only one that fits you is Work Permit Holder, and for that you would have to get some British police force to apply for the permit on your behalf.

Maybe some of the people here who are smarter than me can think of something.

JH

I might suggest rather than looking for a job as a police officer that you look for something closely related, perhaps in the private sector, or a job in the public sector that is a support role, rather than an actual police role.

I saw a program on TV here in the UK where they relocated a family from the UK to Canada. The father was an EMT with loads of experiance but would have had to wait 6 months to take an exam before actually becoming an EMT and was denied a work permit. He regrouped and after taking another look at his resume realized that he had diaster training and reapplied as specialist in the field of diaster response and was granted a work permit and found a job that paid 25% more than his current position. 

Taking the information regarding visas and work permits from the other posters and with that in mind, you may want to look at your skills and training and see what else you can market to employers and sell yourself as something other than a police officer.

I was told that I'm American too...I think that means that I'm really well off ...

It could also have been a polite way of pointing out that you're from a non-EU country, which makes legally working here much harder than if you had come from (say) Estonia, France or Malta. Or it could have been a gentle way of pointing out something else - there's a sizeable proportion of the UK population that feels that USA authority figures tend to over-react (examples - Rodney King case, George Bush invading Iraq), and that could make any public-facing police position difficult for you.   UK policing is seen as concensual, whereas US policing (thanks to TV programs) is seen as much more agressive - they all carry guns, which they routinely wave at people even when stopping them for a traffic offense.

Can anyone tell me why I'm being treated like some Third World Terrorist ...

From what you've posted, I don't think you are, Billy.

I do agree with Janice's post - you might be far better placed in a different role (rather than as a policeman) initially. If you discover you're an Anglophile and fit in naturally, then a move across to a role with a British Police force would become easier in time as you move from a limited period Visa to perhaps a permenant one and in due course citizenship. As well as these logistical issues, I expect that during these initial years you would become far more "naturally British" - using terms like "Police force" rather than "Police Department" in your conversation, for example ... and that would also help you in a police job application, and in policing the British way ... if you don't find that your initial role is even more "you" than policing

Anyway - you're very much along the right road by researching the hurdles you're coming up against; I hope you find a way to make the hurdles work for you rather than against you. Good luck.

I just wanted to add that, in many ways you may be better off not working for the Police in the UK.  I know many people from both the US and other countries who have come to the UK seeking work as Police officers only to learn that they have to start from scratch once they are here.  Previous experience many get you in the door, but you would still have to retrain and previous years of service will not count, so you will be on the same pay as a new recruit (about £25k in London). 

I think that looking for another related role would be the best way to go. Within the local government, there are community safety partnerships and drug and alcohol action teams--both of which would hire someone with your type of experience.  Especially as the UK is moving towards a US model of punishment for drug users, rather than its historical treatment agenda.  There are no specific regulations around working for local government and you would be eligible once you get an entry clearance that allows you to work.

I have asked everyone except Tony Blair and all I get is a round robin.....Can anyone tell me why I'm being treated like some Third World Terrorist when all I wanted to do in the UK is live and serve the community?

As this was the original question, I thought I might try and answer it since I have no advice to give regarding how to become a police officer in the UK.  You are getting the run-around because the British do not like to answer questions I have lived here for about 10 months, and have learned that you must be very very persistent if you want answers. When I ask an employee where to find something in a department store, i'm usually told (in the most polite way possible) to go ask someone else. When I worked in accounts we occassionally received random invoices for things we'd never ordered. When I'd ask the supplier in question to sort it out, I was always very helpfully told they'd look into it. After not hearing a peep out of them for a week or so, I'd call back, explain the situation (the person on the other end of the phone seeming blissfully unaware that this conversation had taken place before) and again would be told they'd look into it.

The point is, if you want anything to get done (this includes getting questions answered) you have to become a pest.  Have any of these people you've spoken to told you they'd "look into it"? If so, keep badgering them until they can give you a reasonable answer.  Jim H posted a link to britainusa.com, which is the source for visa information. If you can't find what you're looking for there, use the contact information listed on the site to ask people in the know, and make a nuisance out of yourself. They wil eventually give you a straight answer because  they'll want to get you to leave them alone.

Or marry your girlfriend 

Good luck!

I would like to thank everyone that has replied to my ranting mail.  I have learned more from all of you, than I have calling the various offices in London.

 I went on through life assuming that because a Brit can move to America with no difficulty I could move to the UK with the same open armed welcome. We have so many British cops living and working over here.....They all buy a large truck ( gas being $2.75 (1.35GBP) a gallon) In most states if you don't have a police record you can buy a gun...or several if you so desire. They sell their home in the UK for GBPs and buy a larger more expensive home over here. Their only complaint is paying 1/4 of their salary for medical coverage only to find out that a doctor here don't even touch you unless your'e Brad Pitt or his equivilent, but they can always go back to the UK for long term care.

About my girlfriend she had some personal issues to deal with and the fact that I couldn't stay in the UK, let alone earn enough money to buy her a small chips and a drink. She went on her her merry way so that option is out, unless I marry some pub babe, but I would have to stay in touch for at least two years. 

Again I appreciate all the advice I am getting from you all.....Happy New Year to all of you.......

                                                                                                      Bill

I would like to thank everyone that has replied to my ranting mail.  I have learned more from all of you, than I have calling the various offices in London.

 I went on through life assuming that because a Brit can move to America with no difficulty I could move to the UK with the same open armed welcome.

I'm glad the advice you've had has been helpful for you.  THis is a great group of people that I'm sure you'll find to be incredibly informative and knowledgable.

I think you'll find tho that Brits *can't* move to America easily.  In fact, many of us ended up in the UK because the opposite is true.  Getting our spouses to the US with us, even after marriage is a serious undertaking.  Moving here is about a million times easier, in my opinion. 

Not sure why you have noticed so many British cops in the US...perhaps there's a special immigration policy for those in that profession, but I can tell you that on the whole, American immigration policies are not easy to get around.

Best of luck to you!