Police more respected in Oz than UK

POLICE officers who emigrated for a new life in Australia told yesterday how they feel "more appreciated" Down Under.

- Cyril Dixon

The experienced British officers were among the first 23 to be sworn in by the Western Australia force this week after an overseas recruitment campaign pulled in 1,400 applicants from around the UK, Ireland and New Zealand.

They now enjoy higher salaries, better public healthcare, the lifestyle benefits of sun, sea and beaches, and outdoor activities including snorkelling, hiking and kayaking.

And new recruits Ben Woods and Anna Miller said they have already noticed they are being valued more.

Anna, 38, a mother of three who joined after 15 years in West Yorkshire Police, said: "There's a nice positive feeling towards police officers. There's this feeling that they want us to be safe."

She said that in the UK: "I did not feel at all appreciated. There was just a real conflict. It felt sometimes you couldn't do right for doing wrong. Over in Australia, communities support their cops and they trust them."