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Police Officers must pass fitness test or risk losing their job

Monday, 19 August 2013

Greater Manchester Police will be introducing fitness tests for all Police officers in service. Those who repeatedly fail the tests will be at risk of losing their jobs. Sir Peter Fahy, Chief Constable, has led the way for other Police officers and has passed the test.

Officers will have to take part in the ‘beep test’ and reach level 5.4. The ‘beep test’ is a series of 15 metre shuttle runs at an ever increasing speed. If they succeed in reaching level 5.4 it means they will be able to run for 3 minutes 34 seconds.

Those who fail to reach the pass level will be given a fitness plan and will be given 12 months to the pass the test. If they fail to complete the test after 12 months then a disciplinary action will be taken and they may be obliged to leave their jobs for ‘unsatisfactory performance’

Specialist police such as firearms and riot police will have to achieve a higher standard in the beep test and reach level 6.3 and 10.6.

The fitness tests are required by the government and will be introduced to other forces as well as GMP.

The new regime was tested at Surrey Police and they saw a 1% failure rate. Officers who are desk-bound and don’t do ‘officer safety training’ where they learn how to use handcuffs and self defence will not be required to take the test.

Chief Supt John O’Hare who is the head of specialist operations passed the test as he got to level 12. Senior female officers, including two superintendents, have also passed the test.

Ian Hanson, Chairman of the Greater Manchester branch of the Police Federation welcomed the annual fitness test as long as it was ‘done fairly’.

He stated: “Generally speaking, police officers look after themselves. They are interested in their own health and well-being as a matter of personal and professional pride. From our point of view this isn’t going to be a massive culture shock.

“We in the federation will support measures which build on that personal responsibility to look after their own health as long as it’s done fairly.”