As I think Bill Bailey said, "I'm British and therefore crave disappointment." This is a sentiment I wholeheartedly agree with.
I'm proud of being British, I'm proud of my family's mixed background, and I like a lot of our national traits.
However, we've been talking at work about emigrating a lot recently. It seems more and more officers are doing it or thinking of doing it, not just David Copperfield. In fact, I personally know three officers that have jumped country recently, and five more that are in the process of doing it, not to mention the ones that I don't know personally but know of.
This is backed up recent statistics floated about in the news showing that emigration from Britain is increasing and is at a high point.
I have also thought seriously about emigrating, to either Australia or possibly the US. The reasons for me are quality of life, more affordable living... and also to work as a cop in a different way to the way I do now. I'm not naive enough to think that anywhere has a perfect system of policing, but that doesn't stop me wanting to seek one out.
Although I'd happily emigrate (and may well do it in the near future), I also would stay British. I'd take citizenship anywhere that I'd like enough to live in, but I would only voluntarily give up my British Passport in extreme circumstances.
In fact, I can think easily of only two:
1 - If the death penalty was reintroduced in the UK
2 - If all drugs were legalised
I'm not trying to start a debate about the death penalty, there is one about sentencing and the death penalty that appears to be starting on Inspector Gadget's blog at the moment.
What would make you give up your passport?
And, people who have emigrated, or thought about it - why?
If and when I do it, I will be moving as a copper. Despite the frustrations, I still like being a Policemanofficer.
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Come to Australia. Many ex-UK coppers have come here and loved it. Yes, it's far away, yes, you don't get anywhere near the same amount of money and yes, the cost of living does not balance this out much.
But, in terms of quality of life and quality of Policing, it's streets ahead, at least according to the ex-pats who are coppers, I talk to. (I was born here and I Police here, so, I'm biased.)
I'm rather attached to my citizenship too, if I was going to emigrate it would be to New Zealand or Canada methinks. Though New Zealand might just be so I could pick up a some rugby playing maori guy... I'd definitely go for duel citizenship anyhoo, unless there was a dramatic change in our government or culture I can't imagine ever giving it up.
I have thought about emigrating but giving up my British Citizenship I am not so sure about, my friend did it when she went over there and has now come back here so has to spend so much time here and there every year.
No AS this time Area but I have tagged you over at mine..come on over..xx
There are too many things about this country that I love and will not find elsewhere. I love the seasons we have here, the wonderful green fields of my county, the history and traditions. Great produce from the farms, stiff upper lip and all the things that go with it.
My grandfather fought in the battle of the Somme for mine and your freedom from tyranny and dictatorship. My father fought in the D-day landings for the same reason.
We cant let this great country to continue flowing down the sewer.
It's high time we stood up against political correctness and this namby pamby justice system. I for one would bring back capital punishment, but not the death penalty. And as for the prisons, they need to be a place that no-one would want to go back to.
You might want to think twice about Australia. It is likely that Labour will get in this November election.
they may well go beresk as they did last time they got power after a long time in opposition.
Who knows they may even emulate Tony Blair.
I myself emigrated to the US of A and love it here in Florida. But it would be financial Suicide not become a US Citizen, as my Wife & Daughter (both US Citizens) lose 50% of any insurance & benefits paid to them should I die in taxes... That said, once a Brit always a Brit, even if I also hold a US Passport! (As I am not likely to waste a moment of my precious UK Vacation time standing in front of a UK Judge denouncing my UK Citizenship)
So come on in... the water is lovely
What would make me give up my passport?
Bureaucracy.
I'm an Aussie resident in Britain and the bureacratic imbecilities, sorry anti-terrorist precautions, mean I can't renew my Aussie passport. It means I'm effectively a non-citizen unless I want to become a British citizen by virtue of having a British wife.
It probably happens to Brits living outside the UK as well.
As to emigrating, well, in my experience it's not that the grass is greener on the other side, it's just that it has a different flavour.
Sometime in my past we lived in another EU country where my husband was offered a job which should have entailed being that nationality and we called the British Embassy to ask advice. It didn't matter, the nice lady said, if you changed your mind you can always ask to have your nationality back once. We didn't have to, we became a very unusual case. I don't even know if I would have cared that much then.
However - this time next year I hope not to be in this country. I'm hoping to be in a part of a country well the other side of the channel where there is still respect for people in uniform (on the part of the locals at least) and I think there is a chance it might stay like that long enough for me to get old and die. It's bit localised, other bits of the same country are rather different, but the thought of staying here - not just the weather! - doesn't appeal. But I think I might stay British even though I generally forget I speak English when there are certain tourists about!!!
Well, I made the move to Canada in 2004 after many years with the West Mids. And I love it here. I am now in a position to apply for Canadian Citizenship (after the obligatory three years residency) and will be putting in my papers soon. I will keep my British citizenship though - I don't think that I could part with that, it is part of who I am.
Having said that, I would never return to the UK permanently. So far I have only had to return for sad personal reasons and even that is not enough to take the shine off this fantastic country that I now call home.
So, consider Calgary - the Police are recruiting like mad and there are quite a few British officers here. Myself, I now work for the Provincial Government - no fighting with drunks on a cold wet November night, no frustrations due to lack of cars/backup/support etc, etc (I could go on . . . . !) :o)
I'd be glad if you joined the Australian Federal Police here in Canberra. There's plenty like you, but always room for one more.
I came out here in 68, took out Australian citizenship in 88, and still have my UK passport.
Having recently visited Calgary and Edmonton, I can recommend those places too, if you don't mind the cold. -40? Brrrr! But they are crying out for good coppers on the oilfields.
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