Qualification to be a Police Officer in England?

[Sleuth]

This has been mentioned here previously, but I cannot recall. Must you be a citizen of Great Britan, or The Commonwealth, to be a police officer in England?
Thanks.

[Cockney Corner]

I believe the current requirement is that you have to be a citizen of the UK (not Great Britain which doesn't include Northern Ireland), the Commonwealth and I presume the Republic of Ireland (which isn't a member of the Commonwealth). I think there are plans to extend this but there are issues with this, not least that we work for Her Majesty The Queen and not a Government or local authority.

[Sleuth]

Thanks.

[co911]

To join the LMPS:
be a British citizen or a member of the EC/European Economic Area, or
be a Commonwealth citizen or foreign national who is resident in the UK free of restrictions

Manchester Police:
You must be a British citizen, EC/EEA national or a Commonwealth Citizen or a foreign national with no restrictions on your stay in the UK. You must also have been resident in the UK for the prceeding three years to your application.

[Sgt Lobster]

The simple answer is you can now join a UK force if you have permanent residency in the Country. To my personal knowledge we have officers from Iran, France, Ireland & South Africa working in our force and I'm sure there will be more.



Lobster.:)

[Cockney Corner]

My mistake. Sorry Sleuth. Forgot about our mates in the European Union.

[Sleuth]

No worries, mate. I am just responding to an English officer who has moved to the US, and is unhappy that he must be a citizen to join most police departments. It is NOT one world!

[co911]

I think I replied to Richard too, I told him to move. He is wasting his time sitting in NYC complaining when that state requires citizenship and others do not.

[Sleuth]

I can admire his deication to policing, but moving to another country before checking out your eligability for a job? It's called research and planning, people!
I wish him luck!

[co911]

Problem is, he lives in a state (NY) which requires US citizenship for all law enforcement positions. I agree with you, did he even look into his future? I thought his letter to the magazine in question was a little arrogant, almost as if he deserved to be a US cop just because he moved here. Wrong.

[NSWCop]

Do ALL US States have citizenship requirements? I know this is off-thread, but I am curious. I once (many, many, many years ago) harboured a desire to become an American lawman. So I was wondering.
Would a Green Card be sufficient, or is citizenship an absolute requirement?.
Just askin':D