The currently police fitness assessment has had a lot of bad press over the last few years for being “too easy”. What’s interesting to read is how the fitness tests have developed over the previous 40 years.

In the 1980s the fitness tests new recruits had to pass look similar to todays army standards. You were required to run 1.5 miles in under 12 minutes, complete a series of push ups and sit ups and have a suitable grip strength.

The 1990s saw the 12 minute run being replaced by the 15 meter bleep test (level 8 shuttle 1). The requirement to complete a series of push ups still remained.

Looking at today where officers have to reach level 5 shuttle 4 on the 15 meter bleep test, it’s possibly easy to understand why the press has labeled todays assessment as “easy”.