Fit for purpose?

You might be surprised to learn that, tomorrow, North Wales Police becomes the first police force in Britain to require all operational staff to undertake annual fitness tests. We have a (national) job related fitness test for all recruits, but hitherto we have not kept this up throughout our careers -- which is ridiculous, especially given the physical nature of our task and the current obesity epidemic.




All forces do already have an annual recertification process for personal safety training (PST) -- including not just 'empty hand' skills, but also use of handcuffs, baton and incapacitant spray. We have simply added the entry-level fitness test as a pre-requisite to undertaking PST for all operational staff. The odd thing is that so far we're the only force to do so.




The fitness test is a very simple one -- a timed shuttle run and a test of upper body strength, both pushing and pulling. In the interests of fair play, I did mine today, at the age of 53 (the test is rightly job-related, and so is independent of age and gender). I'm pleased to report that I passed with flying colours.




Look at the video below to see your top cop in action, and to gain a bit of an insight into the fitness test and PST process.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Chief
• Constable
• blog

[BabbitCymru]

Again, CC Brunstrom puts his 'money where his mouth is', so to speak. Some of his policy ideas may be flawed but you can't fault the man for being good to his word.

[MrKIPLINGBANNANA]

Its pathetic that this is the fitness test for the police! and its a travesty that it the level was lowered to let more people in! British police in the majority are an absolute joke fitness wise its disgusting!

[4pintfoss]

i'm applying soon, but i'm currently in the territorial army. the annual fitness test in the police should be similar the the annual fitness test in the army. 44 pressups in 2 minutes, 50 situps in 2 minutes, and a 1.5 mile run in 10.5 minutes. this gets scaled down depending on your age. so a 50 year old wouldn't have to meet the same standard as a 20 year old.

if people are unfit and rearlly want the job, they can train hard to pass the test.

[stinkrecords]

This is a fanastic idea and one I believe other forces should adopt. Finally a Chief Constable who has stopped worrying about ticking all the right boxes and finally decided to get his officers in to shape so they are able to do they job they signed up to do.

[brookface9]

im in the police........its easier than that now apparently , if you can breath your in! we too scared to say no in case we get sued for being discriminating against fatties or whoever else.

[skwales100]

Where can I find the equvilant to a DYNO machine to push/pull 35 - 40 KG?

[jmorrison25]

hmm, yes how interesting, i am a bit worried about the old mans health shud he be pushing his body so hard

[mike4826]

Looks identical to the standard police entrance test.

Bleep test of 5.4 or higher (which is about 3 and half minutes of running)

And then onto the DYNO for a bit of pushing and pulling - in the 5 pushes and pulls you do you need to get an average of 35KG

So practice some jogging, running & sprinting with lots of short stops in it

& get down the Gym and push about 35-40KG of weights - a rowing machine (set on high friction) should give you the pull strength required.

No grip test now.

[goodbyname]

Is this the same fitness test for entrants into the police, then? I should have mine soon. What beep test number do you have to get up to and what push and pull weight is it?

[stepheniwanek]

that fitness test looked pretty extreme. i hope they were all ok at the end of it! lol.

[joel2125]

i have got my 'beep test' coming up soon. Hope i pass!

Good vid, shame you cant hear a word that the female officer says.