Police gym test ‘was Covid risk’
ELITE officers at one of the country’s biggest police forces claim they were put at risk of catching Covid-19 by having to complete an intense fitness test in an indoor gym during lockdown.
Despite commercial and police gyms being closed across the country, armed officers at West Yorkshire Police were expected to pass the “bleep test”, where participants run between two points 15 metres apart at increasing speeds, in a sports hall.
The force has said future tests will be carried out outdoors or in more spacious training areas.
The fitness tests, which armed officers must pass twice a year, were suspended at all forces during the first lockdown last year after the College of Policing (COP) stepped in.
During the current lockdown the COP has left it to individual chief constables to decide.
A West Yorkshire Police source said: “In March last year the COP mandated that due to the danger of Covid-19 these fitness tests would not have to be run. We are in January 2021 and arguably the situation is more severe due to the new strains.”
He said officers were not allowed to use force gym facilities for any training but were still expected to take part.
The source added: “Officers are as scared of Covid-19 as any other member of the public. Other police forces, in particular North Yorkshire, are not making their officers run the fitness test due to the risks posed by the virus.”
Brian Booth, Police Federation union representative, confirmed concerns had been raised with him about the bleep test being run indoors.
He said: “It was run in two big sports halls. The COP said in this lockdown essential training could carry on at a chief constable’s discretion.
“Our chief said firearms training needs to happen because of our role in counter terrorism.
“Some colleagues said running two metres apart in a room is not safe as they are breathing a lot, so the force is reviewing it.
“The solution is just to get officers vaccinated.”
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Officer training, particularly in key areas such as firearms, remains a crucial element of maintaining the operational effectiveness of the force.
“On one recent occasion, due to weather conditions, a fitness test was held indoors with appropriate Covid-secure measures.
“While this was appropriate, we have listened to feedback and future tests will be held either outdoors or in our spacious public order training arena.”
A COP spokesman said: “In March 2020 the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for fitness testing, working closely with the College, wrote to all forces and advised that all fitness testing for officers who were already established in their role should be suspended for three months.
“Since the first lockdown forces have gained a greater understanding of how to manage the risks of transmission and the necessary control measures that need to be implemented so that fitness testing can be maintained.
“It is for individual chief constables in every force to decide whether to continue carrying out fitness testing at this time.”