Fitness tests branded “wrong and irrelevant” at meeting

THE newly introduced police officer annual fitness test is “wrong and irrelevant”, police officers heard at an open meeting.

John Blanchard, chairman of Humberside Police Federation, (pictured) told the Fed’s annual meeting that “being able to run isn’t a prerequisite for being a damn good police officer.”

Mr Blanchard, speaking to around 250 police officers from the force, said: “Let’s talk about the fitness test. Cheap, cheerful, irrelevant and prone to cause you injury – it’s a bit like the rest of the Winsor report.”

From September, police officers who undertake officer safety training have been required to attain level 5:4 on a 15-metre shuttle run as part of an annual fitness test.

Mr Blanchard told officers: “For the first time the test is compulsory. It’s wrong, it’s irrelevant and being able to run isn’t a prerequisite for being a damn good police officer.

“Ladies and gents, if you are in any doubt as to whether you will be injured as a result of taking the test, speak to your line management and get referred to Occupational Health as soon as you can.”

Also attending the meeting at the Lazaat Hotel, Cottingham, on Monday, 14 July were Justice Curran, chief constable of Humberside Police, and the area’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Grove.

The meeting heard that when the force was formed in 1974, there were 1,910 police officers. Mr Blanchard said current numbers were 1,621, with that projected to fall to 1,420 in 2018.

“My question is how low can you go?” said Mr Blanchard. “The same question that has been posed to the Force in 2008 and every year since. Our highest number of officers was some years ago with 2,263. That number was achievable with a reasonable precept figure.

“Commissioner, your counterpart in North Yorkshire, Julia Mulligan declared she would draw a line in the sand at the number of officers she inherited on the first day of her tenure. That was 1,392. You inherited 1,745. We are now at 1,621.

“The public has lost 10 officers per month since you entered office. Commissioner, I need to press you to levy a precept which will allow a credible service to be maintained, not one that will wither on the vine.

“The harsh reality about cuts is that you only get one thing from them – less.”

Mr Blanchard told officers: “Policing in the modern era is about so much more than crime. It’s about those things that can’t be counted, vulnerable people, people missing from home, road safety, anti social behaviour and all the other reasons we can list at the drop of a hat.

“Those things which the public know they can rely on us for and no one else, and that is why officers on the street, immediately available are so important.”

Also at the meeting – the first since Mr Blanchard has become chairman – were Steve Williams, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, and general secretary Ian Rennie. South Yorkshire Police Federation chairman Neil Bowles was also at the meeting.