WA Police launches global recruitment drive

The Western Australian Police Force has become the first Australian jurisdiction to launch an international recruitment campaign targeting police officers from the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand. 

WA Police Minister, Paul Papalia said the landmark agreement with the Federal Government will ensure specialist and skilled police officers from across the world will be able to migrate to Western Australia to join the WA Police Force. 

“Every state in Australia is currently trying to get Labour Agreements signed to allow for overseas recruitment in a range of sectors, including police,” Mr Papalia said. 

“The Western Australian Police Force has already recruited more than 1,000 new officers over the past two years.  

“We have more than 480 additional officers on the beat right now, compared with when we took office. There have never been more police on our streets, and the McGowan Government is committed to continuing our record police recruitment drive and making WA safer for our community.” 

He said the campaign was made possible after the signing of a landmark Labour Agreement between the Federal and Western Australian Governments.  

The first of its kind in Australia, the agreement enables WA to recommence recruiting police officers from overseas.  

Under the new Labour Agreement, skilled police officers from the UK and Ireland will be enabled entry into WA over the next five years under the Employer Nominated Scheme (subclass 186) visa, which enables their transition into the WA Police Force and places them on a pathway to citizenship. 

WA Police Commissioner, Col Blanch said policing styles in the selected countries are compatible with Australia.

“My message to officers working in those countries is simple. We want skilled, experienced constables to work on the frontline to help us cover the biggest policing jurisdiction in the world,” the Commissioner said. 

“If you have at least three years’ experience in your Police Force and you are under 55 years of age, we want to hear from you.” 

The previous Labour Agreement, which allowed WA to recruit officers from the UK, expired in 2019. WA Police have not actively recruited overseas since 2017.