NCJ Number
104483
Date Published
1986
Length
29 pages
Annotation
On the basis of a survey of all police forces in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland (52 forces, of which 50 responded), the role of physical stress in inservice deaths and early retirements was assessed, and fitness tests and standards were developed for use with applicants and probationary constables.
Abstract
The survey showed that in the preceding 2 years, coronary related causes accounted for 35 percent of all deaths; and spinal, arthritic and rheumatic diseases were the major causes of medical retirement. A battery of tests was developed and validated to assess cardiovascular endurance, body fat, upper body strength, flexibility, and power. Using data available for officers in the lower age groups and fitness data for the general population, the Joint Working Group on Physical Stress developed a set of minimum standards for males and females for the following fitness tests: 1.5 mile run, percent body fat, push-ups, sit-ups, flexibility, and standing long jump. It is recommended that these standards be mandatory for applicants and probationary constables, and that voluntary testing of inservice officers be strongly encouraged. Appendixes include a discussion of police physical fitness, definitions of the types of fitness assessed, descriptions of the fitness tests, and scorings (poor to excellent) for each of the fitness tests by age group.