07/05/2025
Clive Hammond
When Trainee Detective Constable Cristian Pedone saw his family leave his native Italy and move to Bedford, he was unsure if he could continue his career in law enforcement. But speaking to Police Oracle, the officer explains how he has made a new life for himself while continuing his love affair with policing.
“My professional life in Italy was solid,” T/DC Pedone said. “Policing there is a job for life, especially once you reach my level. But over time, my family started relocating to Bedford, joining one of the oldest and largest Italian communities in England.”
It was a big jump for T/DC Pedone to make, having spent more than a decade in the Carabinieri, one of the national police forces of Italy.
By September 2022, T/DC Pedone made the move over to the UK, having spent time “engaging with the local community and, out of curiosity, spoke with some people in policing”.
He was struck by the tone, “friendly, respectful, with no rigid hierarchy”. And it made T/DC Pedone think.
“After spending half my life in uniform, I paused and tried something ‘normal’. I stayed in the UK, worked in the skydiving world, and enjoyed it,” T/DC Pedone said.
“But as time passed, I realised something very clearly: I might have left the service, but the service had never left me. I found myself assessing situations, supporting others, staying alert — doing what police officers naturally do.
“So I decided to start again, under a new badge. This country welcomed my family and gave us all a fresh start. Joining the police felt like the right way to give something back.”
After deciding to begin again with Bedfordshire Police as a trainee detective, T/DC Pedone began learning how different policing in Italy was compared to the UK.
He originally saw how he “couldn’t tell the difference between officers and staff — in Italy, civilian staff in policing is rare and never operational”.
But it was the “tone” of conversations that convinced him he could fit in.
“In Italy, interactions are often formal and shaped by rank,” he said. “That small encounter left a big impression on me and made me think more deeply about what policing in the UK might be like.”
There were many challenges that the move brought about, particularly the language barrier, his age, immigration status and the loss of his professional identity.
Culturally, T/DC Pedone said, in Italy, once you are over the age of 30, you’re considered too old to start a new career, particularly in policing.
“Most public service entry routes close around 24–28, with some exceptions. So I never imagined starting over in my mid-30s,” T/DC Pedone continued.
“Here in the UK, I was amazed to learn you can apply to join the police even into your late 50s. It was a cultural shock — a good one.
“My English was basic when I moved — good enough for a holiday, but not for work. In Italy, I had a strong command of formal language and used it daily. Losing that fluency was frustrating.
“I deliberately avoided isolating myself. I lived in a shared house with English-speaking housemates, took private English lessons, and worked face-to-face with the public every day.
“My English improved quickly, though I’m still working on it. Colleagues reassure me often, and many even enjoy the Italian accent!”
Perhaps the most daunting issue was the loss of identity; prior to joining Bedfordshire Police, T/DC Pedone had risen up the ranks to Police Inspector-Second Class Marshall, which is a non-commissioned officer rank, generally corresponding to a Warrant Officer level.
He said: “I gave up rank, recognition, and everything I had worked towards.
“But I took it as a personal bet. Many of the skills I developed — leadership, investigation, resilience — are proving useful here. The learning curve is steep, but I’m proud of the path I’m on.”
So, after more than 18 months transitioning from Italian life to British, what are some of the biggest differences he sees between the two nations when it comes to policing?
“Extrenally —The UK excels in transparency, scrutiny, and victim focus. In Italy, policing is still quite closed-off,” he said.
“Information is tightly held, even between agencies or neighbouring stations. But here, there’s a culture of openness, communication, and public accountability.
“The approach to victims is also much stronger. There’s a formal Victims’ Code, a clear complaints process, and a real effort to keep people informed. That’s powerful. It builds trust.
“Internally — The UK stands out for its work on equality, diversity, inclusion (EDI), and especially mental health and wellbeing.
“In Italy, diversity is still developing. You must be a citizen to apply, which limits representation. But the real difference is how mental health is handled. Here, if you speak up about anxiety, stress, or depression, you’re supported. No one sees you as weak. That matters.”
He added: “In Italy, the stigma is still strong. Officers fear that if they talk about their struggles, they’ll lose their weapon, their job, or be suspended. That fear leads to silence — and sadly, Italy has one of the highest police suicide rates in Europe.
“Here in the UK, the culture is shifting. People are talking. Leaders are listening. That alone can save lives.”