5 days ago
English police forces loosen fitness test requirements
Police forces in England have quietly reduced the difficulty of their fitness tests as a new analysis reveals they are among the easiest in the world.
Last year, following pressure from the Police Federation, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) issued guidance to forces to lower the amount of running required in the annual bleep test.
The new standard, which has been taken up by forces including Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley and West Yorkshire, eased the requirements from level 5.4 — equivalent to four minutes 22 seconds of light jogging — to level 3.7, equivalent to three minutes and eight seconds of the same.
Some forces, such as Surrey police, have also made the change for new applicants.
