Policies

National Fitness Standard for the Scottish Police Service

From 1st September 2007, all new applicants and recruits to the Scottish Police Service will have to undertake the new national fitness standard as a demonstration of physical fitness. The standard replaces the variety of fitness testing regimes utilised by the eight Scottish Forces to date. In addition, it links into the fitness regime used by the Scottish Police College during both the Initial Training and Reconvention probationary courses.

Once appointed, probationary officers will be expected to continue to demonstrate their fitness to the required levels throughout their probationary period. The attached guide details the standard requirements, which comprises two elements: STRENGTH and CARDIOVASCULAR.

UPDATE: All forces introduced the cardiovascular standard on 1st September 2007, for new recruits and probationers, as outlined.

Strathclyde, Northern, Grampian and Dumfries & Galloway Police Forces require recruitment candidates and probationary constables to carry out the push/pull standard for data gathering purposes only. This is to allow for increased data capture, and to ensure validity, with a view to this element of the standard being fully adopted in the future.

NOTE: A local policy decision determined that Lothian and Borders, Fife, Central Scotland and Tayside Police adopted both the cardiovascular and push/pull element of the National Fitness Standard, as outlined, from 6th October 2009.

• National Fitness Standard for the Scottish Police Service Policy »
  

CARDIOVASCULAR ELEMENT

The cardiovascular element of the standard can be measured by the using the Multi Stage Fitness Test, also known as the MSFT or bleep test.

Your Force will advise you of the test they utilise to measure the cardiovascular element of the standard.

All probationary officers will be required to complete the MSFT during probationary training at the Scottish Police College. Details of the conduct of the MSFT are contained in the guide above. For training purposes, however, you may find the attached MSFT training downloads of use. You should measure out a level, 15-metre long training space in order to utilise these downloads fully.

1. Bleep Test - Intro »
2. Bleep Test - Get Ready »
3. Bleep Test! »

NB The bleep tests are in MP3 fomat and require an MP3 supported player e.g
- Windows Media Player »
- Winamp »

STRENGTH ELEMENT

• Fitness Test Demonstration film »
  

The strength element of the test is measured using a push/pull machine. You may not be familiar with this machine, although it is similar to the rowing machines that you will find in most gyms. The attached videos show the correct operation of the machine in the completion of both push and pull elements.

NB The Fitness Demonstration is a WMV file (47Mb). You will require Windows Media player to view it - Free download available.