Diary of a former Bow Street Runner

In the event that people still check this blog, I though I'd post an update.

Have got an application in for one of the state forces here in Australia. Not that enthused about it, thanks to talk of industrial action in one of the state forces and an ongoing industrial dispute with another. The pay is rubbish here for the police - I start work tomorrow as a security officer at a rather swank hotel, with an hourly rate that is just a couple of dollars less than what sub-18 month service police officers are paid, and a weekend rate that matches their hourly rate! Job should be a piece of piss, and they're looking to promote me to Assistant Security Manager after a little bit, so if the package is good enough, I might blow off the cops entirely.

Application for the Air Force as an Officer is proceeding nicely in the meantime - it's a good package and good job opportunities, so I'll probably do that for three years if I'm successful.

Have also been training for a Croupier position at a casino here, before the security position came up. So I have to ask myself - do I want to work security and be promoted, then possibly join the Air Force at some stage next year, or work blackjack several hours a day, several days a week, for a couple of months until I learn another game, then join the Air Force? For those who haven't played it, it's a bloody repetitive game to play, and even more mind-numbing to deal! The hotel, however, may be pretty quiet, so there's a risk that, after Christmas, my hours may be reduced, which won't happen with the Croupier job.

The answer is a bit of a no brainer (I shall probably favour the security job), but I'm going to inquire as to whether or not I can transfer across to casino security on a casual basis and work both jobs to get my debts from the UK paid off. If not, I've got a professional security qualification here, previous police experience and a truckload of other bits and pieces in my favour.

For those looking to come out here and not join the police - it's VERY easy to find work in the security field, with or without a security qualificiation, although having such a qualification will be beneficial. Unlike the UK, security work here can be pretty well paid if you find the right company and the right job at the right time.

I haven't missed policing in the slightest, and stay in occasional contact with a few colleagues and friends, who now want to come over! If you make enough of a go of it here, you can't really go wrong, and you certainly won't want to go back to the UK!
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