Officers failing fitness tests will not face sanctions

Police officers who fail fitness tests will not face unsatisfactory performance procedures after concerns were raised over potential legal challenges.

As part of the Winsor Review of Pay and Conditions, it was proposed that officers who fail to achieve a minimum standard of 5.4 on a shuttle run could face disciplinary action. The recommendation said officers who fail tests three times “should be subject to the appropriate disciplinary procedures” from September 2014.

However, criticism that such tests would unfairly impact on female, older or disabled officers have been raised, most notably at the Police Federation of England and Wales’ (PFEW’s) annual conference in Bournemouth last May.

Last month the Police Advisory Board for England and Wales’ (PABEW’s) Fitness Working Group issued new guidance to police forces, which it said complied with the Equality Act 2010 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It called for forces to provide “supportive action” to officers who fail the tests in place of sanctions, with diversity monitoring of those who fail or are unable to take the tests also advised.

The Metropolitan Police Service is examining alternative testing procedures for disabled officers, recommended by Winsor, on behalf of the Fitness Working Group.

Jayne Monkhouse, the PFEW’s adviser on equality, said officers “will not have to worry about this hanging over their heads this year”, adding provisions should be in place for certain policing roles where such tests would be unnecessary.

“A detective inspector for example may not have to do officer safety training in their role so they are under no obligation to do the test,” she said.

Graham Cassidy, national secretary of the Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales, said it supported introduction of fitness tests and was not aware of any of its members who have had problems with the tests.