Police fitness tests made easier
Discussion
Tests of strength will be easier
Fitness tests for police recruits are being easier in an attempt to increase the number of women officers, the Home Office has announced. About one out of every two women fail the tests compared with one out of every 20 men. As a result only 18% of officers are women.
The Home Office says it can recruit up to 5,000 more women every year by replacing the test with a more female-friendly version.
Recruits' speed and agility will no longer be put to the test as this is where most of the women have been failing. Tests of strength and endurance will be made easier and the speed and distances recruits have to run will be halved.
They will no longer have to run a "slalom" - in and out of cones - as this no longer reflects the skills "modern policing techniques and technologies" require, Home Office spokesman John Ruddock told BBC News Online.
Home Office minister Bob Ainsworth said the new test would require "no more than what is needed to do the job safely and effectively".
"This will have a dramatic and positive effect on the numbers of women joining the police service," he said.
"It is central to the police reform agenda that we get the right people in the right jobs in the right numbers.
"We need a police service that draws on the talents and potential of all parts of society."
Police Federation of England and Wales chairman Jan Berry said: "We welcome the decision to amend the tests.
"We want to ensure many good potential officers, who would otherwise be lost to the service, stand a fairer chance of becoming police officers without falling at the first hurdle."
The Association of Police Authorities also welcomed the new test.
Executive director Melanie Leech told BBC News Online: "It is important to get as broad a range of people as we can into the service so it reflects the diversity of the population."
Fitness tests for police recruits are being easier in an attempt to increase the number of women officers, the Home Office has announced. About one out of every two women fail the tests compared with one out of every 20 men. As a result only 18% of officers are women.
The Home Office says it can recruit up to 5,000 more women every year by replacing the test with a more female-friendly version.
Recruits' speed and agility will no longer be put to the test as this is where most of the women have been failing. Tests of strength and endurance will be made easier and the speed and distances recruits have to run will be halved.
They will no longer have to run a "slalom" - in and out of cones - as this no longer reflects the skills "modern policing techniques and technologies" require, Home Office spokesman John Ruddock told BBC News Online.
Home Office minister Bob Ainsworth said the new test would require "no more than what is needed to do the job safely and effectively".
"This will have a dramatic and positive effect on the numbers of women joining the police service," he said.
"It is central to the police reform agenda that we get the right people in the right jobs in the right numbers.
"We need a police service that draws on the talents and potential of all parts of society."
Police Federation of England and Wales chairman Jan Berry said: "We welcome the decision to amend the tests.
"We want to ensure many good potential officers, who would otherwise be lost to the service, stand a fairer chance of becoming police officers without falling at the first hurdle."
The Association of Police Authorities also welcomed the new test.
Executive director Melanie Leech told BBC News Online: "It is important to get as broad a range of people as we can into the service so it reflects the diversity of the population."
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instead... So we're now going to get girlies in blue 5" tall and unfit as well as female whales who won't fit in size 46" waist uniforms are we?.......
FFS one has to be FIT to be in uniform, and be able to catch a 17y.o. yoof running from the crashed TWOC after killing 3 at the bus-stop!!!!!!
How 'fin stooopid is this PC borrocks!!!!
FFS one has to be FIT to be in uniform, and be able to catch a 17y.o. yoof running from the crashed TWOC after killing 3 at the bus-stop!!!!!!
How 'fin stooopid is this PC borrocks!!!!
JMGS4 said:FFS one has to be FIT to be in uniform, and be able to catch a 17y.o. yoof running from the crashed TWOC after killing 3 at the bus-stop!!!!!!
How 'fin stooopid is this PC borrocks!!!!
What makes you think that they actually want to catch them? This initiative will save millions in paperwork alone.
Andy
"We want to ensure many good potential officers, who would otherwise be lost to the service, stand a fairer chance of becoming police officers without falling at the first hurdle."
The first hurdle!!!!
This guy is a fking moron, the fitness test is not the first hurdle, you have to do an assesment first, which is a right bastid, I know this cos I've failed it 3 times.
Fuked if I'm trying agin though, I'm 6'4" built like a brick shit house, can run fast as fook and hit people REALLY hard (I'm a Thai Boxer BTW) but these were not qualities sought after by the BiB.
Instead you had to demonstrate customer service skills with particular emphasis on empathy, compassion and dimplomacy.....which is why I didn't get in I think......twats!!!
>> Edited by dave_s13 on Tuesday 20th May 16:50
Wrong. You have to be able to load a camera with film whilst stood on a ladder. That's where your going wrong
dave_s13 said:
"We want to ensure many good potential officers, who would otherwise be lost to the service, stand a fairer chance of becoming police officers without falling at the first hurdle."
The first hurdle!!!!
This guy is a fking moron, the fitness test is not the first hurdle, you have to do an assesment first, which is a right bastid, I know this cos I've failed it 3 times.
Fuked if I'm trying agin though, I'm 6'4" built like a brick shit house, can run fast as fook and hit people REALLY hard (I'm a Thai Boxer BTW) but these were not qualities sought after by the BiB.
Instead you had to demonstrate customer service skills with particular emphasis on empathy, compassion and dimplomacy.....which is why I didn't get in I think......twats!!!
>> Edited by dave_s13 on Tuesday 20th May 16:50
. I'm one her majesties 'finest'...our fitness tests are a joke...do coppers do the 'bleep test' like us.
It's also unequal for male and female.....basically an 18 year old girl has to do less than a 34 year old bloke!!!!....and one girl failed this week!!!!!!!...I say if you are not fit enuff, you shouldnt be in the job.
It's also unequal for male and female.....basically an 18 year old girl has to do less than a 34 year old bloke!!!!....and one girl failed this week!!!!!!!...I say if you are not fit enuff, you shouldnt be in the job.
^^^^^^^ 
dave_s13 said:
Fuked if I'm trying agin though, I'm 6'4" built like a brick shit house, can run fast as fook and hit people REALLY hard (I'm a Thai Boxer BTW) but these were not qualities sought after by the BiB.
Home Office minister Bob Ainsworth said the new test would require "no more than what is needed to do the job safely and effectively".
Question for BoB Ainsworth. Bob you daughter is walking late at night and is being aproached by 4 young fit men who are intent on mugging or worse do you
A) want a 6 foot four Thai boxer on hand to protect her ?
B) a 5 foot tall overweight and unfit woman?
well BoB? which one you fcuking muppet
Jesus how long do we have to put up with this B******
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