Met police officers lured Down Under by '£47,000 pay and six weeks' holiday'

24 January 2023, 15:14 | Updated: 24 January 2023, 15:19

Police in Western Australia - where the force is trying to recruit cops from the UK
Police in Western Australia - where the force is trying to recruit cops from the UK. Picture: Western Australia Police/Facebook

By Asher McShane

An Australian police force has said it has had a ‘large number’ of applications for police officers wanting to leave the UK and work Down Under.

Western Australia police issued a plea four months ago for officers to leave their posts in London and join their force.

Perks being offered include a £47,000 starting salary and six weeks annual leave. Other perks include promises of fast- track Australian citizenship.

Another benefit is the force down under deals with significantly less violent crime, particularly knife crime.

Met officers start on ‘over £33,500’ including allowances.

According to the Evening Standard, around 750 applications have been received so far after the force issued a plea for officers from the UK, Ireland and New Zealand.

Western Australia police’s Commissioner Col Blanch said: “WA Police Force commenced an international recruit campaign in October and since then about 750 applications have been received.

Read more: Zara Aleena's family slam Probation Service for failures that kept killer out of jail

Read more: Missing Constance Marten and sex offender partner 'may be sleeping in blue tent with newborn in sub zero conditions'

“I’m personally aware a number of those applications come from officers from the Met and I wish them all the best in the process.

“Western Australia is a fantastic place to live and work as a police officer”.

A survey by the UK Police Federation published earlier this month warned officers are at ‘breaking point’ over pay and conditions.

 Police Federation National Chair Steve Hartshorn said “record numbers” were heading for the door.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Kieron Goodwin, 33, was found guilty of murder after a five-week trial at Bristol Crown Court

Man plied partner with cocaine and fatally strangled her the night she planned to leave him

Andrew Johnston of Britain's Got Talent performs at Manchester's Christmas party at Albert Square on November 12, 2010 in Manchester, England.

Britain’s Got Talent choirboy star who was given £1m record deal ‘pinned down and raped’ two women

Exclusive
Kneecap have been making headlines after they used a recent performance at Coachella to denounce Israeli attacks on Gaza

Kneecap could be pulled from major UK show after shouting 'pro-Hamas' chants at concert

Eni Aluko and Ian Wright during the Arnold Clark Cup match between England Lionesses and Spain at Carrow Road on February 20, 2022 in Norwich, England.

Eni Aluko 'faces sack' after accusing Ian Wright of blocking female pundits by ‘dominating’ women’s football coverage

The number of shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales has passed half a million for the first time, figures show.

True scale of Britain's shoplifting epidemic: Police record more than 500,000 cases in a year for the first time

Exclusive
A senior officer within London’s Metropolitan Police has suggested there are not enough officers on the beat on Saturdays.

Top cop questions whether Met has enough officers on duty on Saturdays as he makes comparison to busy retailers

Leah Harrison died on a school trip

Girl, 10, swept away to her death by mudslide 'which came out of nowhere' on school trip

Exclusive
Lucy Issac (pictured) and her unborn's son life were at risk when she underwent an operation to have her womb removed

Miracle of baby 'born twice' after mother undergoes life-saving womb operation

St Nicholas Church in Pluckley. A series of tantalising mysteries associated with the "most haunted" village in England has been solved by a university academic.

Revealed: Researchers uncover truth about England's 'most haunted' village

Inmates clean a wing inside the Young Offenders Institution on Portland in Dorset England.

Pepper spray to be used in young offender institutions as violence against staff 14 times higher than adult prisons

US President Donald Trump has said he has sued the law firm that handed Hilary Clinton's campaign a dossier on his links to Russia.

Trump says he is suing a US law firm that handed Hilary Clinton campaign a dossier on US President's links to Russia

A teenage girl using a blue asthma inhaler. Health chiefs have warned users about relying on them

Health chiefs issue warning to anyone who users an asthma inhaler

Knife offence takes place every 30 minutes in London (file image)

Knife offence takes place every 30 minutes in London, official figures show

Lucas Akins (7 Mansfield) looks on during the Sky Bet League 1 match between Cambridge United and Mansfield Town at the Cledara Abbey Stadium, Cambridge on Saturday 25th January 2025. (Photo: Kevin Hodgson | MI News)

Footballer jailed after mowing down cyclist in high-powered Mercedes while taking his daughter to piano class

Students cry and embracing each other at the high school Notre-Dame de Toutes-Aides after the attack.

One student dead and at least three injured in knife attack at French secondary school

Pilgrims and the faithful queue inside St. Peter's Basilica and pay  their respects to the late Pope Francis, on April 24, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican.

Pope was found unresponsive ‘with eyes open’ as doctor reveals Pontiff’s heartbreaking last regret