Fitness and the UK police
Discussion
Serving plod.
The test is a joke, and I'm 50. Its easy at 5.4 and i do the PSU 6.4 which is hardly taxing.
I know colleagues who have failed and it's excuse after excuse. Fail and it's arm over the shoulder and a cuddle. P***es me off !
The test 5.4 is easy. Fail it once then you get a second chance in six months. Fail it gain and your out. End of.
Andy.
The test is a joke, and I'm 50. Its easy at 5.4 and i do the PSU 6.4 which is hardly taxing.
I know colleagues who have failed and it's excuse after excuse. Fail and it's arm over the shoulder and a cuddle. P***es me off !
The test 5.4 is easy. Fail it once then you get a second chance in six months. Fail it gain and your out. End of.
Andy.
Andyblue said:
Serving plod.
The test is a joke, and I'm 50. Its easy at 5.4 and i do the PSU 6.4 which is hardly taxing.
I know colleagues who have failed and it's excuse after excuse. Fail and it's arm over the shoulder and a cuddle. P***es me off !
The test 5.4 is easy. Fail it once then you get a second chance in six months. Fail it gain and your out. End of.
Andy.
When I did mine a few years ago a girl dropped out at level 3.something. The test is a joke, and I'm 50. Its easy at 5.4 and i do the PSU 6.4 which is hardly taxing.
I know colleagues who have failed and it's excuse after excuse. Fail and it's arm over the shoulder and a cuddle. P***es me off !
The test 5.4 is easy. Fail it once then you get a second chance in six months. Fail it gain and your out. End of.
Andy.
Her excuse was that she skipped breakfast that morning, I wasnt cruel enough to tell her that too much breakfast is why she failed as she was a right biffa.
Luckily most bobbies I know tend to look after themselves but every nick has the scruffy, fat, lazy waster types with fried egg drips all over his vest. I just put it down to a shocking lack of pride and self respect.
I just had a read of the fitness entry requirements for the police and the army.
I think up to the age of 65 (unless disabled/injured) if you can't pass most of that you need to have a good hard look at yourself.
Royal Marines is a bit harder but I'd be confident with a bit of extra training (and I have a bit of a dodgy knee) and I'm 49.
The army though; a little bit of running, 30 push ups and 50 sit ups. Thought it would be much harder than that, quite surprised!
I think up to the age of 65 (unless disabled/injured) if you can't pass most of that you need to have a good hard look at yourself.
Royal Marines is a bit harder but I'd be confident with a bit of extra training (and I have a bit of a dodgy knee) and I'm 49.
The army though; a little bit of running, 30 push ups and 50 sit ups. Thought it would be much harder than that, quite surprised!
I was 'invalided out' of the police at the age of 48. ( Ill health pension).
It's not passing the fitness test on entry, when a young man that was the problem. It was the injuries picked up over the course of service that meant I couldn't do the job. I would have like to have stayed in a meaningful back office role, but there weren't any, as they had all been 'civilianised'.
That was 8 years ago, and I am rarely pain free now. I don't think the RM entrance test is for me, thanks! ( Did it when I was 19)
It's not passing the fitness test on entry, when a young man that was the problem. It was the injuries picked up over the course of service that meant I couldn't do the job. I would have like to have stayed in a meaningful back office role, but there weren't any, as they had all been 'civilianised'.
That was 8 years ago, and I am rarely pain free now. I don't think the RM entrance test is for me, thanks! ( Did it when I was 19)
We didnt have a fitness test on entry back in the 1970's. Following a basic medical it was off to training school where fitness was assessed with a series of runs, swimming and gym work culminating in a six mile stamina run at the end of the ten weeks. Theyd want to see improvement throughout the ten weeks. Pretty much all non swimmers could swim by the end of the course.
There was no in force fitness assessments or training for many years later other than on PSU training.
There was no in force fitness assessments or training for many years later other than on PSU training.
Back when I was a young lad, police training was 17 weeks long and you were expected to improve on your bleep test scores which were run every two weeks. It made a case for sandbagging, I suppose, but you were disciplined if your effort wasn't good enough. Essentially, the trainers wouldn't settle for less than a good effort. If you didn't do at least an 8 to start with you could look forward to a fitness plan.
Basic hand to hand skills was a week's worth of work in itself.
Basic hand to hand skills was a week's worth of work in itself.
XCP said:
I was 'invalided out' of the police at the age of 48. ( Ill health pension).
It's not passing the fitness test on entry, when a young man that was the problem. It was the injuries picked up over the course of service that meant I couldn't do the job. I would have like to have stayed in a meaningful back office role, but there weren't any, as they had all been 'civilianised'.
That was 8 years ago, and I am rarely pain free now. I don't think the RM entrance test is for me, thanks! ( Did it when I was 19)
I totally understand that and sorry to hear you've been injured. I'm just surprised the entry standard is so low.It's not passing the fitness test on entry, when a young man that was the problem. It was the injuries picked up over the course of service that meant I couldn't do the job. I would have like to have stayed in a meaningful back office role, but there weren't any, as they had all been 'civilianised'.
That was 8 years ago, and I am rarely pain free now. I don't think the RM entrance test is for me, thanks! ( Did it when I was 19)
I thought to join the army you would have to be super fit. I guess they increase the fitness as you continue your training.
TurboHatchback said:
I wonder about the effectiveness of the tiny little ones too, how do you arrest someone twice your weight and 3 times your strength? I'm sure once upon a time it was a requirement to be of a certain size, strength and fitness to join the police, does anyone know if and how the standards have changed and what they are now?
I am sure there used to be a height requirement a long time ago, a stringent fitness requirement and a set of paper tests.... people generally got in on merit and 100% meeting the required criteria.Now the standards have changed, anyone who is of an ethnic minorty/female/gay etc stands a chance of getting in not only on merit and meeting the requirements 100%, but on quotas due to the f
kwit PC brigade..hedgefinder said:
I am sure there used to be a height requirement a long time ago, a stringent fitness requirement and a set of paper tests.... people generally got in on merit and 100% meeting the required criteria.
Now the standards have changed, anyone who is of an ethnic minorty/female/gay etc stands a chance of getting in not only on merit and meeting the requirements 100%, but on quotas due to the fkwit PC brigade..
Having recently attended a assessment day for the police, I can say they do not let anyone in who ticks a diversity box. The assessment day is bloody stressful and hard work, involving maths and English tests, role plays and a interview. That's after passing the application form stage. If you pass both its then another interview. Now the standards have changed, anyone who is of an ethnic minorty/female/gay etc stands a chance of getting in not only on merit and meeting the requirements 100%, but on quotas due to the f
kwit PC brigade..I missed out by 2%, if you don't meet the mark for everything needed you fail. This is despite working for them for nearly seven years as a Special.
Yes the fitness test isn't the hardest in the world, but that's what's been decided at the moment.
jdw100 said:
XCP said:
I was 'invalided out' of the police at the age of 48. ( Ill health pension).
It's not passing the fitness test on entry, when a young man that was the problem. It was the injuries picked up over the course of service that meant I couldn't do the job. I would have like to have stayed in a meaningful back office role, but there weren't any, as they had all been 'civilianised'.
That was 8 years ago, and I am rarely pain free now. I don't think the RM entrance test is for me, thanks! ( Did it when I was 19)
I totally understand that and sorry to hear you've been injured. I'm just surprised the entry standard is so low.It's not passing the fitness test on entry, when a young man that was the problem. It was the injuries picked up over the course of service that meant I couldn't do the job. I would have like to have stayed in a meaningful back office role, but there weren't any, as they had all been 'civilianised'.
That was 8 years ago, and I am rarely pain free now. I don't think the RM entrance test is for me, thanks! ( Did it when I was 19)
I thought to join the army you would have to be super fit. I guess they increase the fitness as you continue your training.
Half marathon in under a hour and half , 6 miles in under 40 mins?
You might be able to do the above but it's a different story lugging around all the kit and wearing boots.
Look at the patrols when abroad in Afghanistan , lots and lots of walking with occasional full on periods of intense activity avoiding being shot and shooting back.
Edited by egor110 on Saturday 15th October 14:31
I transferred forces when I was 37. I wondered what the fitness test would be and, as I'd had mumps some 6 months before, I didn't want them thinking they were taking a risk. So I trained.
I ran a more than 6-mile cross country course at least three times a week for over four months. I'd also swim and do other exercises. I've forgotten my time for the run after all these years, but it wasn't at all bad. I went for the medical and was surprised to find all that was required was 12 squats whilst holding onto a table, with heart rate being taken before and after.
Being a bit miffed, what with all the work I'd been doing, I demanded of the doctor what on earth he could tell from that. He said, 'Nothing. I go by medical records and time off sick.'
I pointed out that I'd had over two weeks (I think) off with mumps before I was allowed within 10 feet of anyone. I had it quite bad. He sort of shrugged and said anyone could get the disease.
But like XCP, I too had multiple injuries during my time. I recently went to the doctor with what I knew as excruciating earache. A quick examination revealed it was arthritic jaw. 'Have you ever been punched in the head?' the doctor asked. I told him I'd been punched from behind breaking the tip of the jaw but it healed. 'That'll do it every time.' I was told.
Then there're are the numb toes on my left foot, numb big toe on my right, the result of, in part, carrying a shield. There's the shoulder pain from the three broken vertebrae when I was thrown against a table. I can't straighten my right arm, this after a bloke tried to break it against a post. I can't walk on hard ground for more than a couple of miles without getting pain in my heels, another form of arthritis from all the walking I did. And right at the end, with 14 months to go, I was sent home as too ill to work but not ill enough to sack because that would have meant paying me an early pension.
And yet, I have been rather lucky. I've had two criminal injuries compensation board claims in my time, neither of which are life-changing. I meet a number of retired police officers in a little role I do, as well as a number of serving officers, meeting the divisional commander of my old division last week who looking about 12 years old, and I'm one of the fittest in the old buggers group. Two of my contemporaries died in the last four months, both of heart related matters.
For any serving police officers, look on the bright side. You'll suffer injuries during your time but, unlike those of my antiquity, you'll be discarded, thrown out in the same way as a worn part on a car, and with as little regret, not to mention ceremony, but you won't get many more injuries. So a positive there.
I ran a more than 6-mile cross country course at least three times a week for over four months. I'd also swim and do other exercises. I've forgotten my time for the run after all these years, but it wasn't at all bad. I went for the medical and was surprised to find all that was required was 12 squats whilst holding onto a table, with heart rate being taken before and after.
Being a bit miffed, what with all the work I'd been doing, I demanded of the doctor what on earth he could tell from that. He said, 'Nothing. I go by medical records and time off sick.'
I pointed out that I'd had over two weeks (I think) off with mumps before I was allowed within 10 feet of anyone. I had it quite bad. He sort of shrugged and said anyone could get the disease.
But like XCP, I too had multiple injuries during my time. I recently went to the doctor with what I knew as excruciating earache. A quick examination revealed it was arthritic jaw. 'Have you ever been punched in the head?' the doctor asked. I told him I'd been punched from behind breaking the tip of the jaw but it healed. 'That'll do it every time.' I was told.
Then there're are the numb toes on my left foot, numb big toe on my right, the result of, in part, carrying a shield. There's the shoulder pain from the three broken vertebrae when I was thrown against a table. I can't straighten my right arm, this after a bloke tried to break it against a post. I can't walk on hard ground for more than a couple of miles without getting pain in my heels, another form of arthritis from all the walking I did. And right at the end, with 14 months to go, I was sent home as too ill to work but not ill enough to sack because that would have meant paying me an early pension.
And yet, I have been rather lucky. I've had two criminal injuries compensation board claims in my time, neither of which are life-changing. I meet a number of retired police officers in a little role I do, as well as a number of serving officers, meeting the divisional commander of my old division last week who looking about 12 years old, and I'm one of the fittest in the old buggers group. Two of my contemporaries died in the last four months, both of heart related matters.
For any serving police officers, look on the bright side. You'll suffer injuries during your time but, unlike those of my antiquity, you'll be discarded, thrown out in the same way as a worn part on a car, and with as little regret, not to mention ceremony, but you won't get many more injuries. So a positive there.
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