Equality: At the heart of what we do

I am the brand new Equality Lead for GMP Fed, and I’m looking forward to working on your behalf to ensure that we continue to represent the interests of every single member.

I know some of you might have a cynical view of the Fed; if that’s you I recommend you speak to your local rep and ask them how much of their time they spend helping colleagues with equality related issues. You will be both surprised, and reassured; helping to ensure an equal and fair working environment for officers really is at the heart of what we do.

My first proper column in Manchat will be in the next issue, in the meantime I have asked our Equality Advisor to provide an update on an issue that many people have questions about - the fitness test, and what the Fed have been doing to make sure that it is as fair as possible.

 

 

Officers who fail fitness tests this year will not face sanctions 

 

Jayne Monkhouse is the Police Federation’s Equality Advisor. She attends the national Fitness Working Group and has been involved in the production of the College of Policing’s guidance on the introduction of in-service fitness tests.

 

The test came from a recommendation made in Tom Winsor’s review of police officers’ pay and conditions. He recommended that:

 

“A fitness test should be introduced in September 2013 for all police officers and staff required to undertake personal safety training. Participants should be required to attain level 5:4 on a 15-metre shuttle run”.

 

This means that officers who are not required to undertake officer safety training as part of their role do not have to undertake the fitness test. The standard (5.4) reflects the physical demands of officer safety training. So, officers who not have to do officer safety training in their role are under no requirement to do the test.

 

This was brought into sharp focus recently when the press reported that the Chief Constable of Cleveland, Jackie Cheer, had failed to achieve 5.4 on the test. Whilst she is undoubtedly good at her job, she does not have to pass a fitness test in order to do it. And the same is true of other officers further down the rank structure.   

 

Winsor also recommended that:

 

“From September 2014, those who fail the test three times should be subject to the appropriate disciplinary procedures”.

 

However, the Police Negotiating Board did not support the use of disciplinary measures for those who fail the test. They recommended to the Home Secretary that in the first instance supportive action should be offered to officers who fail and then, if it remains unresolved, Unsatisfactory Performance Procedures (UPP) should be initiated. The Home Secretary accepted the Board’s recommendation.  

 

A key concern from the national federation is that the test may disproportionately impact on older officers, women and those with disabilities. So, over the next year forces will be required to provide data on diversity monitoring of the new tests and who passes, fails or is unable to take the test because of a medical condition. The Fitness Working Group will be reviewing the data to see if any changes are required before the tests go live in September next year.

 

Winsor also recommended that there should be an alternative test for officers with disabilities. Some officers, for example with knee problems, would struggle to turn on the shuttle run test and  some forces carry out an alternative test on an exercise bike or running machine – but this is not consistent or scientifically validated as being the equivalent of the shuttle run. The Fitness Working Group is looking at validating an alternative test which should be available next year.