Calgary turns to U.K. for police officers

Calgary police are looking to the United Kingdom for officers to keep up with retirements and a booming population.

The Calgary Police Service has set aside $40,000 to send four recruiting officers to England and Scotland this October and to fundan advertising campaign in a U.K. policing magazine.

The officers will attend an immigration fair and set up information sessions.

The Calgary police force needs 140 new officers next year alone and recruiters are hoping to see about 200 applicants during the trip.

Acting Insp. Michael Watterston said with the current labour shortage in Alberta, it's tough to find experienced officers, but the U.K. police force is enticing.

"These are folks that come to the table not only with experience but with those soft skills in dealing with people. Going out onto the street in their first shift they know how to talk with people. They're mature, experienced."

'Job is exactly the same'

When Const. Stewart O'Neill made the leap from London bobby to Calgary police officer, he adopted a unique nickname.

"I was paired up with another guy from London and one of the sergeants gave us a call sign of fish and chips. All of the guys had a laugh over that."

O'Neill is one of about 40 officers who have come from the U.K. on their own.

"The job is exactly the same. The legal system in the U.K. is virtually the same as it is here in Canada. So we have transferable skills and experience that we can bring here to help Calgary."

He said the decision to move his family to Calgary was an easy one.

"My children can be kids they play out on the street, which they never did back home. I guess [there is] less population, more wide open spaces, less crime, [and] more affordable housing from a U.K. perspective."