Almost 30 new recruits have joined the West Australian Police Force as part of a major international recruitment drive to plug an exodus of officers from the service over the last year.
Key points:
- WA police numbers are being boosted via overseas recruitment
- But some prospective candidates can’t access the necessary visas
- There are calls for candidates to be told of the visa issue up front
But UK police officer Jonathan Wales believes Australia’s migration laws are preventing more officers from joining them.
Mr Wales was provisionally accepted to join the WA force, but withdrew his application after learning his family was almost certain to be declined permanent residency because he has a son with autism.
Mr Wales, who spent nearly a decade on the beat in Scotland, said seeing the new recruits being sworn in on Monday was extremely difficult for him.
“I’d hoped to be part of that at…
