Ex-police officer who fled Britain for Russia stripped of UK citizenship over 'national security' concerns

"I have always been interested in Russia from a young age," he said. "As a child, I just had an obsession with Russia and its culture. I can never pinpoint one thing that started it - I have no family connection to Russia."

Originally from Bracknell in Berkshire, Mr Bullen spent 11 years at Hertfordshire Police, where he wrote a book on Russian crime and was the only Russian-speaking officer, before moving to St Petersburg in 2014.

He remains in the city, now with his wife and four children, but 10 years on from his Russian migration, Mr Bullen was detained at Luton Airport under the Terrorism Act.

Police questioned him for four hours before releasing him - but in October of last year, he received a letter from the Home Office informing him that his UK citizenship had been revoked.

"For them to do this, without any evidence, is ridiculous," Mr Bullen said.

The letter explained that it was a matter of "national security".

Mr Bullen first moved to Russia at the tender age of 18, already fluent in the language, and taught English before moving back to join the force in 1999.

He had always planned to return, and in 2010 he did so on a police training exchange in the city he would eventually move to.

On the trip, he became fascinated by the tattoos he saw on criminals, leading him to produce the book "Thief in Law: A Guide to Russian Prison Tattoos and Russian-Speaking Organised Crime".

After moving back to Russia in 2014, he embarked on a remarkable change of career: football media.

Mr Bullen was immediately hired for the historic Russian side Zenit St Petersburg's social media team due to his fluency in both English and Russian.

He also then met his wife, with whom he shares four children, and acquired a dual Russian citizenship in 2022.

Mr Bullen has his sister, parents and grandparents who reside in the UK and, until the pandemic in 2020, had no problems returning home a couple of times a year to visit.

"I used to come back once or twice a year and it used to be easy, I used to be able to get a Wizz Air flight from St Petersburg to Luton," he said.

But in November 2024, he was detained at Luton Airport by police, marking the last time he was able to return home.

"The last time I came back in November 2024, I was forcibly detained under the Terrorism Act at Luton Airport," he explained.

"I was denied legal representation despite asking three times.

"They took my DNA, fingerprints, I had to strip down to be photographed. I was released and was able to go about my business while I was home."

Then, 11 months on from his questioning at Luton Airport, Mr Bullen received a letter from the Home Office saying his UK citizenship had been revoked - something he says left him "completely shocked".

"I absolutely deny I am any threat to the UK. I find that comical," he defiantly stated.

"I have never been charged. I have a perfect police record, two commendations, I was awarded officer of the year.

"I am certain it is an overreaction. I have no idea why they targeted me."

Mr Bullen says he has no plans to return home in the near future.

Under section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981, the Home Secretary has the power to take away a person’s British citizenship if they consider it conducive to the public good.

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