Police Scotland was urged to help new recruits slim down rather than blocking entry to the overweight as it emerged that one quarter of applicants were rejected for failing fitness tests in a year.
Between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, 358 applicants to Police Scotland’s regular constabulary failed to meet the standard of fitness required.
That is well up on the previous year when 196 applicants were rejected because they fell short of the national standard. There are no mandatory fitness tests for serving police officers in Scotland, unlike in England, where they became compulsory in September 2014. However, Police Scotland probationer officers undergo fitness tests throughout their two-year probation. The figures revealed that 44 probationary officers failed the fitness test in the 2021-22 period.
Tam Fry, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said: “The police, like the military, should offer weight-loss training rather than lose aspiring recruits. Whilst training they should, of course, not be assigned frontline duties until, ultimately, they are fit for purpose. The police and recruits will feel better for it.”
The figures, released under freedom of information legislation, show that 1,218 applicants passed the fitness test in the past year. The Police Scotland fitness test usually involves a “bleep test” shuttle run where applicants run against the clock. The applicants are asked to run repeatedly between two markers placed 15 metres apart and the goal is to reach each marker at the sound of the beep. The running test is usually held in an indoor gym hall, although applicants had to complete a timed 1.5-mile run outdoors last year.
Advertisement
As well as physical tests, Police Scotland candidates have to meet language, numbers and information-handling standards in an education test, pass an interview, go through a vetting process and pass a criminal record check.
Candidates must also pass medical, financial status and business interest checks, be tested for substance misuse, come through the probationary period, and pass the final fitness assessment.
Superintendent Simon Wright, head of recruitment at Police Scotland, said: “Policing in Scotland is a highly rewarding career and all candidates are taken through a rigorous recruitment to ensure Police Scotland recruits the best talent from across the UK.
“Part of this process involves a fitness assessment, where a candidate’s readiness to take on the day-to-day role of a police officer is assessed. This is not a competition and is designed to evidence that the candidate is ready for our 12-week training programme and a career in Police Scotland. A very small number of those applying do not obtain the necessary level of fitness, but will be given appropriate support and invited to re-submit their application following a specified period of time.”
