To feel our police officers should be in better shape?

[waddlecakes]

Seriously, I was watching one of those UK Police style programmes and it's like you'll have a criminal jump out of a car and vault over garden walls, and you've just got these 5'5'' overweight police officers trotting along after them, heaving and panting, calling for back-up. It's not just a TV thing either, I can't remember the last time I saw tall, really fit looking police officers knocking about.

Does the police force not have any standards or what?

Have my first ever biscuit!

I agree, they are all very young and very short these days and very scruffy

That's all the police do all day. Run after people and get puffed out. Yes.

What does the biscuit thing mean LittlePudding?

Every force has fitness tests and to my knowledge height restrictions were done away with years ago. Equipment weighs over a stone usually and combined with the boots it is really hard to run without getting out of puff really really quickly.

And your bad boy is usually wearing trainers with a head start!

Luis, obviously that's not all the police do. But I would have thought that a major deciding factor in recruiting and training new police officers would be the capacity to physically run after criminals.

Physically running after criminals is a pretty small part of the job - it just happens to be the bit that translates to the TV best.

My idea of a good officer is one with tact and diplomacy, able to behave with authority, intelligence and compassion.

So you wouldn't get into my Force

Waddle you're obviously correct police should be a lot fitter than the young criminal you saw on the tv legging it in trackers and trainers.

It's just a pity that our shifts have been extended, days off reduced, the gyms at police stations closed to save money, the safety gear officers wear weighs a stone, (I know this as I weighed mine) and they've generally got a head start.

On the plus side I do work with some seriously fit people. However the more mature on my shift are generally carrying quite nasty injuries too

Yep! That's all I want police officers to be, fit so they can run! Forget about them being empathetic, intelligent, personable, fearless, comforting, i just want them to be able to run!

I'd like to see you run in steel toecap boots wearing a stabproofvest carrying radio, baton, cuffs cs spray etc all the while trying to keep control updated on where they are.they usually aren't running to catch them, just guided. The back up.

But I suppose that's what tv does, makes people think they are experts in something the have absolutely no clue about

If you wanted to see fit cops you should have been in Belfast this past couple of weeks World Police & Fire Games being hosted and dear god the amount of fit bodies would have slayed you.

I used to be an officer. Was looking at local police recruitment fitness tests

Why not have a go op? See how you do.... The bleep test would be a good starting point for you

I don't think it's unreasonable for the public to expect police officers to be physically fit, along with the other attributes that have been mention. After all, catching people is part of the job sometimes!

But there is a lack of understanding about the impact the equipment has on a persons ability to run

Oh sacre you may have been ogling my friends!

''But I suppose that's what tv does, makes people think they are experts in something the have absolutely no clue about''

Well the poster just above you works for the police and has said I'm correct.

I mean, when you say: ''I'd like to see you run in steel toecap boots wearing a stabproofvest carrying radio, baton, cuffs cs spray etc all the while trying to keep control updated on where they are.''

Why would you? I haven't elected to join the police force. What next - German teachers shouldn't have to master German, because I'd like to see you try and get to grips with learning a totally new language? Nurses shouldn't have to be medically trained because it's more important that they're kind? Get a grip woman.

Switch the telly off and go spend a day with one.

Sacreblue I totally agree. Everywhere I turned in Belfast over the week of the wpfg there were incredibly fit runner, cyclists, walkers, joggers, sightseers. They were putting us locals to shame!

You do realise all the equipment doesn't exactly flatter the figure?

As did I waddlecakes, I don't think you have understood what tiredtrout has said. As I don't see her agreeing with you.

Being fit is not the only requirement do being a police officer, medical training for nurses, I would say was top of the list.

You are police bashing based on one clip on a tv show, you should keep hold of the grip you are offering, I feel you are in more need of it.

Waddle if you were referring to my post, I was being sarcastic.

You ought to meet my team then . Thirty officers , and not one of us is unfit or overweight . Not even me who managed 11 on the bleep test (admittedly mainly out of rage mind you because I loathe being bawled at by the fitness staff )

Have you ever considered that the only reason that you only see the slower officers , is because they're the ones the camera crew can keep up with ? The rest of us whippets are much further ahead . But then criminals who are usually 15 years younger , 2 stone lighter and with a better incentive to flee are more likely to get away . But then , the government wanted officers working for longer , it's likely that some might just get slower .

Well done on that 11!!!

Threads like this drive me crackers. People are people, not automatons. Being a policeman is a job but it appears once you have a job, especially a highly visible public service role you are fair game forever more to the judgement and scrutiny of the general public. It almost feels like public service workers are public property sometimes judging by some of the posts on here.

I was fucking knackered though I confess . But I was buggered if I was going to give those fuckers a chance to take the piss .

Oh ffs.

Yes, short people are all unfit and can't solve crime. Imagine a short man solving a crime or a short woman dealing with a traumatised rape victim. How ridiculous. They would do it so much better with greater height and more muscles