Two officers injured while taking police fitness test

Yorkshire Police said the fitness test was introduced early “to dispel myths and reassure staff as to what was exactly required”.

She said no officers have been injured since September and that chief constable David Crompton had passed the test twice.

In West Yorkshire, all officers including chief constable Mark Gilmore are being asked to take it.

Officers have been tested to the national standard since September 1 with a pass rate of 95 per cent, and senior officers are set to take it on October 23.

Mr Bowles said officers in 
South Yorkshire were in favour of a fitness test but that the Police Federation had asked for an alternative to the bleep test to be introduced. He said: “Our issue is that some officers are injured in the line of duty. A bleep test is pretty bad for people with an ankle injury because of the amount of turning.”

John Blanchard, of Humberside Police Federation, said the bleep test was not relevant to most officers’ jobs. He said: “I have never chased a burglar 15 metres one way and then back the other way. Being able to run fast doesn’t necessarily make a good cop.

“It is a cheaply administered test. I have got upwards of 30 officers who have various injuries or medical conditions. If most tried to undertake the test they would suffer more significant injuries.”

Comment: Page 10.