Leicestershire Constabulary Skills Training department are putting senior police officers, managers and staff through their paces in a series of fitness -*test*-('")s to highlight how fitness is relevant not only at the recruitment stage but also throughout the career of all police officers and staff.

Chief Superintendent Nick Gargan, Head of the Learning and Development Department said: “We invited senior managers to undertake these -*test*-('")s for several reasons. Firstly, we wanted senior managers to be able to demonstrate that they are not asking their staff to do anything they would not be prepared to do themselves.

“Secondly, we wanted to encourage police leaders and managers to stop and think about their own levels of health and fitness as this is a demanding business and it’s all too easy to forget to look after yourself while you are looking after everyone else.

At Leicestershire Constabulary we provide the best fitness training and development of policing skills for officers and staff to protect the public, themselves and their colleagues. Police work can sometimes involve long periods of inactivity followed by short bursts of intense activity so flexibility, strength and endurance are a key element of the fitness programme in preventing injuries and strains.

After passing a fitness -*test*-('") when first joining the police service new recruits receive regular fitness assessments during their probation period. This is followed by expert advice from the Force’s highly skilled physical training instructors who issue a personal training programme needed to carry out a safe and effective police service.

Sergeant Steve Riley said: “Whether you are a newly appointed police officer or a senior officer with many years of service, it is essential that you possess a standard of physical fitness, which allows you to perform tasks professionally and without the risk of injury when the need arises. To do this you will need a reasonable level of strength, agility and stamina.

“These fitness -*test*-('")s allow senior officers to understand and compare the level of fitness expected from new recruits and probationers as the -*test*-('") has changed radically over the past few years.”

The Force’s Skills and Fitness section provide regular and varied lunchtime and evening fitness sessions. These range from circuit training, step and body-pump right through to indoor cycling and in the very near future session on Pilates. There is also the Force gymnasium, with free use of the weights, resistance and cardio-vascular equipment as well

Sounds like a good idea, wonder if any other forces have tried this yet.