Federation: New fitness test provides welcome alternative

NEW fitness tests introduced into policing will enable officers with lower limb conditions and other impairments to continue in their roles.

The College of Policing endorsed two new fitness tests that give officers a “welcome alternative” to the standard fifteen metre shuttle run, Essex Police Federation said. 

All forces in England and Wales will have the option to offer the alternative fitness tests – the Chester Treadmill Police Walk Test (CTPWT) and the Chester Treadmill Police Run Test (CTPRT) – after changes to the guidelines.

After a warm-up, the new tests see the officer being required to walk at a brisk pace or run on the treadmill for ten minutes – with the gradient being increased every two minutes.

The move will be beneficial for officers, Essex Police Federation has said.

Steve Taylor, Federation Chairman, said: “I welcome the introduction of alternative fitness testing, and I base that on the arbitrary testing that the current shuttle run provides. Does it bear any resemblance to what we do operationally? No, it’s just a measurement of fitness.

“Is everyone able to complete it and therefore demonstrate the right level of fitness? No. Does that mean they’re unfit? No it doesn’t necessarily – it could just mean they’ve got problems with their knees, it could just mean they’re not very good at quick changes in direction. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t have a level of fitness.”

Steve said the alternative tests should be made available for those in specialist roles as well.

He added: “The more options we have for colleagues who might struggle for particular reasons the better. If general fitness is the reason they’re struggling in any of these tests I’d like to think that will be highlighted and can be worked on which is a positive. But what a multiple choice of tests gives us is the option to not disadvantage those that have reasons other than poor fitness for not being successful in tests.”