One in 10 police fail physical fitness test

Press, 4 February 1989, Page 4

One in 10 police fail physical fitness test

PA Wellington More than one in 10 police officers failed their compulsory physical fitness tests by the January 1 deadline. Passing the physical competency test every 18 months was made a condition of employment in 1985 for all officers under the age of 50. The 10 per cent failure rate is made up of officers who have recently. failed the test, those who have never taken it, and those who may have passed it once but not within the past 18 months. Of the 4618 officers eligible for the test, 654 had not passed it at January 16, though more were expected to pass as tests continued. Only 102 officers, or 2 per cent of the force,

failed the test and are on remedial programmes. Some 307 have passed the test previously but not within the past 18 months, and 234, 5 per cent of the force, have never attempted it. Officers were warned by police headquarters last year their jobs could be in danger if they ' failed. No decision has been taken by police headquarters on what to do with staff who have not passed their test by the middle of the year. In the Number 4 police region, which includes Wellington, 19 per cent of the 818 officers eligible for testing did not meet the deadline. Auckland police had the best record with only 6 per cent failing,by January 1.

Number 5 region, covering the central South Island, had the worst results with 21 per cent of staff still awaiting testing. The tests have to be passed every 18 months, or every 12 months if officers are members of the armed offenders or anti-terrorist squads,Last year the tests were criticised by women officers who said they could pass the test, but had to spend far longer than their male counterparts preparing for them. Figures are not yet available on how many women have failed. The Police Association attacked the idea of dismissing good officers because they could not pass the test. It also called for paid time off so that officers’ could train to maintain their fitness.