Re: I'm looking at moving to the UK
 

Find that very hard to believe, I have just seen so many violent incidents over here, and have had several close calls myself (ie accosted by a man who was behaving in a very threatening manner at nightime the first weekend I was here, only 'got away' because a passer by intervened.) I have also been taunted by a gang of CHAVS recently on a walk, again a very afraid looking man bravely intervened. I also teach at schools where the police turn up at home time to stop fights/brawls occuring, I have never heard that happening at in OZ. I could go on and on. I will start collecting all the "reports" I read and post them on the site for you. Mind you, it is easy to find a "report" to back basically any agenda. Also know of a couple of incidents where the police have not even been called despite a serious assault having occurred.

Don't get me wrong, there is a lot I love about this country, but I find the lack of police presence and also the governments willingness to give proper sentences to criminals over here cause for concern. In one of today's papers it said that there are no more prison spaces left (or is this wrong too????) and a senior judge was asking for other judges not to give young juveniles prison sentences.

Re: I'm looking at moving to the UK
 

What a negligible difference. 2003 figures I notice, got anything more up to date?

Re: I'm looking at moving to the UK
 

His flat is very cute, but it is 1700 pounds per month for the three of them. Two of the bedrooms are in the loft. I thought he was getting ripped off, but maybe not? It makes me wonder how a man could support a family when that is what you would have to pay? He has a british passport but if I had a child, how could we pay that kind of money if I wasnt working? What kind of place would we able to afford? Anyway, not on the cards at the moment, just got me thinking....

Re: I'm looking at moving to the UK
 

Violent incidences do not make a high murder rate though do they?

Re: I'm looking at moving to the UK
 

It can be difficult to measure accurate trends in police recorded crime. The reasons for this include:


changes in the way police have been asked to record crimes


changes in people's attitudes to reporting crime

You have to know someone has been murdered, ie some communities may hide them. If there is no record of the person and no one reports them missing, their body may disappear ie someone who is in the country illegally. So stats aren't always reliable and lets face it some politians will have the figures altered if it is a political campaign to make them look good.

Re: I'm looking at moving to the UK
 

Exactly. Thus your claim that the UK has a high murder rate, is wrong.
Footnote says it's actually up to 2000. Feel free to quote your source that says the murder rate is now "high" (ie up from 46th) in the UK compared to Aus.

Here's a report from 2001. Pay attention to the "Violent Crime" graph:

http://www.economist.com/displayStor...tory_ID=513031

Re: I'm looking at moving to the UK
 

So do you think you could afford to rent or buy in the middle of Sydney on a single income?

I just wonder what you're comparing with what.

Re: I'm looking at moving to the UK
 

London is a fantastic place to live when you are young, free and single!
I went to university there and eventually left London when I was aged 30.
My hubby is an aussie and spent 4 years in London, and absolutely loved it and most aussie travellers do!...should give it a try....there is more to the world than Australia!!! :)

Re: I'm looking at moving to the UK
 

And if a British citizen, it might be an idea to show your nationality as "British" on your CV/resume.

Re: I'm looking at moving to the UK
 

Don't buy any clothes before coming over here, they are cheaper here than in OZ.

We're thinking of emigrating to OZ next year, (hopefully) my husband is in the Police. We would prefer NSW or QLD but they are only recruiting for SAPOL, WAPOL and NZ. Which would you recommend.

My advice to you is to come for England for a break not a permanent move.

I can't advise on London as I live in a suburb of Manchester. What I can say is the UK is changing a lot with the open immigration policy and the European Union and not for the better. The Government want a multicultural society but I think there are a lot of communities living in parallel isolation only mixing when necessary ie. workplace and shopping.

The crime rate has also increased.

So I suggest maybe a year out to see the sights and experience it and then go back to OZ. Check the statistics - emigration to OZ has never been higher and a large number of middle age people are considering it as they want a better environment for their children.

Re: I'm looking at moving to the UK
 

Its not that much better in Oz you know as an environment for children, if that is a concern maybe move to one of the med countries. They have quite a high suicide rate amongst teenagers, and illiteracy is worse in some places than UK. Australia is also ranked as one of the most violent western industrialised countries as well as UK.... I think some people are jumping from one fire into another....especially those who don't like foreigners.....:beer:

Re: I'm looking at moving to the UK
 

Absolutely. The trouble is people do not compare like with like. It just depends exactly where you live, whichever country you are in. The crime rate in London in not very relevant to me - I live in a quiet riverside village. Similarly the crime rate in Western Sydney was not very relevent to me in the Eastern Suburbs.

Re: I'm looking at moving to the UK
 

Shoz, what part of Hampshire are you living? We were going to live in Portsmouth/Southsea area, that fell through so planning on the move to Spain.

Re: I'm looking at moving to the UK
 

i agree i was thinking that was cheap, i live an hour from london, and the average rent for accomadation here is £900.00 per month. as for london it all depends on what you want out of life, if you like the hussle and bussle then yes its great.

Re: I'm looking at moving to the UK
 

Just an idea about where to base your self in the UK. Have you thought about Belfast? I lived there with my Aussie husband, and we loved it. Belfast is a vibrant, exciting city. The people are wonderful, and it seemed to me that they love Aussie's in Ireland and welcome them with open arms. It has to be one of the best cities in the UK, it is beautifully situated and surrouded by stunning countryside. I wish I could be there now instead of in Australia.

London isn't the only place to go in the UK, go there for a short while for the experience, then move on. And YES moving to the UK is a good idea for you, any Aussie's I have met who have lived and worked in the UK are the better for it, and have not regretted it.