OFFICERS from West Mercia and Warwickshire police recorded the third highest failure rates in fitness tests throughout the country, it has been revealed.
Results submitted to the College of Policing by both forces combined showed 94.4 per cent of officers taking part succeeded, which was only worsened by Suffolk, 93 per cent, and West Midlands at 94.2 per cent.
The figures showed 218 of the 231 officers from the two forces passed.
The 15-metre ‘bleep’ shuttle run test is based on scientific research to match the demands of officer safety training and will become compulsory in September after recommendations by Tom Winsor, Chief Inspector of Constabulary.
Supt Steve Eccleston, from West Mercia Police, said: “The results to date are encouraging and show the vast majority of officers tested are fit.
“Fitness trainers from Warwickshire police and West Mercia police are working with officers and provide training programmes to help improve fitness levels, with some excellent results.
“We are also seeing officers taking personal responsibility for improving their fitness levels, and as a result we are seeing our overall pass rate increase.”
Nationwide, 851 officers from 39 forces fell short of the required standard.
Ass Ch Cons Rob Price, responsible for local policing and partnerships, said they would be helping forces to get more officers up to standard later in the year.
“Police forces are sending their results to the College on a quarterly basis and an equality impact assessment is being carried out on those results,” he said.
“New guidance will be issued to forces later this year with a strong emphasis on providing supportive measures to help officers pass the test.”
