Police fitness test changes brings a fitter, faster and more able frontline

Frontline Police officers are fitter, faster and stronger than ever before, following a reviewed focus on the Physical Competency Test or PCT as it's commonly known.

Deputy Commissioner Mike Bush says from tomorrow, all constabulary employees (Constables, Sergeants and Senior Sergeants) must hold a current PCT in order to be operationally deployed.

"Tomorrow's change means the public can be assured that all of our frontline staff are fit and able to carry out their responsibilities."

Within each of the 12 Police Districts around the country, an impressive 95.3 per cent of constabulary staff have a current PCT.

"Those staff that are unable to complete their PCT due to injury or illness are all on rehabilitation plans, designed to help them to get their PCT. These staff are not in frontline roles whilst on a remedial programme."

Deputy Commissioner Bush says in 2009, Police commissioned a review of the PCT programme, which was completed in 2011 by the University of Otago.

"The study made recommendations on the modification, administration and overall context of the PCT. The research found that the PCT is a very good tool that has stood the test of time extremely well."

Mike Bush says tomorrow's change is a direct result of this report. Other recommendations are still being considered, including modifications to the maximum completion times of the PCT.

Completion times for the PCT course are determined according to the officer's age and gender. The PCT was introduced around 27 years ago in 1986.

The PCT involves completing a 400 metre course of tasks in this order:
- Pushing a car trailer 10 metres
- Carrying a car wheel assembly 10 metres
- Running 200 metres
- Walking a five metre right-angle beam, a metre off the ground
- Jumping a 1.8 metre long jump
- Running around cones and under and over hurdles for 30 metres
- Climbing through a one-metre high window
- Climbing over a solid 1.8 metre high wall
- Dragging a body 7.5 metres
- Climbing a 2.2 metre-high wire fence.

Deputy Commissioner Bush says, "New Zealanders should be proud that we are one of very few Police jurisdictions in the world that has a physical standard that is maintained throughout an officer's career."

ENDS

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