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Police fitness test
The police entrance fitness test in England & Wales has been standardised in recent years and is less onerous than previous fitness tests.
The job-related fitness test (JRFT) is an aerobic test based on the physiological demands of personal safety training (PST). The core rationale for the JRFT is to ensure that prospective police officers have a minimum level of fitness to be able to undertake PST training.
There is no obstacle course or upper strength testing as part of this test.
The 15 metre multi-stage fitness test (MSFT)
The 15m MSFT involves running up and down (a shuttle run) a 15-metre track. It is timed against a series of audio beeps and the participant must ‘beat the bleep’ and complete the shuttle before they hear the sound.
At the end of each level, the time between beeps gets shorter, meaning the participant has to run faster.
The standard needed for an officer who requires PST as part of their role is 5.4 which means running at least in time with the bleeps for four shuttles at level 5. The whole test takes 3 minutes and 35 seconds and covers 525m.
LEVEL 1
Time per shuttle (seconds) – 6.9 |
Number of shuttles required – 7 |
LEVEL 2
Time per shuttle (seconds) – 6.4 |
Number of shuttles required – 8 |
LEVEL 3
Time per shuttle (seconds) – 6.1 |
Number of shuttles required – 8 |
LEVEL 4
Time per shuttle (seconds) – 5.6 |
Number of shuttles required – 8 |
LEVEL 5
Time per shuttle (seconds) – 5.5 |
Number of shuttles required – 4 |
Alternative fitness tests
Chester treadmill police walking and run test (CTPWT and CTPRT)
An alternative test was introduced in 2016 – the Chester treadmill police walking and run test. Both the CPTWT and CTPRT are treadmill tests designed for officers with lower limb injuries which prevent them from completing the 15m MSFT because of the turning at the end of each shuttle. It is for individual forces to decide when to offer the alternative test to officers.
This test takes place on a treadmill. After a suitable warm up the subject is required to walk at a brisk pace (6km/hr) on the treadmill. Every two minutes the gradient is raised by 3% for a specific amount of time. The length of time an individual must continue depends on the kind of policing role.
Standards needed for the treadmill tests
ROLE
Police officer |
Time (minutes and seconds)10 |
ROLE
CBRN police |
Time (minutes and seconds)10 |
ROLE
Dog handler |
Time (minutes and seconds)10 and 20 seconds |
ROLE
Mounted branch |
Time (minutes and seconds)10 and 20 seconds |
ROLE
Police cyclist |
Time (minutes and seconds)10 and 20 seconds |
ROLE
Police support unit |
Time (minutes and seconds)10 and 40 seconds |
ROLE
Air support unit |
Time (minutes and seconds)10 and 40 seconds |
ROLE
Police drivers |
Time (minutes and seconds)11 and 20 seconds |
ROLE
Marine police |
Time (minutes and seconds)11 and 40 seconds |
ROLE
Authorised firearms officer |
Time (minutes and seconds)12 |
The CTPRT treadmill protocol is the same test but conducted at a greater speed (10.4km/hr) to reflect the higher aerobic demand.
LEVEL 1
Treadmill gradient – 0% |
Time (mins)0-2 |
LEVEL 2
Treadmill gradient – 2% |
Time (mins)2-4 |
LEVEL 3
Treadmill gradient – 4% |
Time (mins)4-6 |
LEVEL 4
Treadmill gradient – 5% |
Time (mins)6-8 |
LEVEL 5
Treadmill gradient – 8% |
Time (mins)8-10 |