College endorses new alternative fitness tests for officers
THE College of Policing has endorsed two new fitness tests for police officers to go alongside the shuttle run – a treadmill walk test and a treadmill run test.
All forces in England and Wales will have the option to offer the alternative fitness tests, but it will be a local decision for chief officers about whether or not to do so. According to the College of Policing: “The 15m shuttle run [bleep test] remains the recognised fitness test and officers will not be able to state a preference for an alternative test but could apply to take it following an occupational health referral, or if they have a medical reason for not being able to complete the shuttle run test.”
At the last count, police officers in England and Wales have a 98% pass rate on their fitness tests. College of Policing figures show 93,956 officers took the test last year with 92,093 of them passing.
The Chester Treadmill Police Walk Test (CTPWT) and the Chester Treadmill Police Run Test (CTPRT), designed by Professor Kevin Sykes, will give forces a choice other than the standard 15m Multistage Shuttle Run (15m MSTF) currently used.
The CTPWT performance test has been specifically developed for officers in England and Wales to consistently match the established 15m MSFT standards required for Personal Safety Training and specialist posts.
The test consists of a warm-up and the officer is then required to walk at a brisk pace on the treadmill for 10 minutes – with the gradient being increased every two minutes.
The College added: “It has been designed as a reliable way of ensuring officers demonstrate they can reach the same aerobic capacity standards required for operational duties as they would by completing the shuttle run test.”
Officers in a number of specialist roles, such as Authorised Firearms Officers, dog handlers and police divers, can also take the test but are required to achieve a higher level of aerobic fitness to pass.
National lead for fitness testing, Assistant Chief Constable Jo Shiner, said: “The public rightly want their officers to be fit and able to protect them in the face of danger so it is important we provide them with different ways of demonstrating they can reach the required standards.”