Annual Police
Fitness Test
Level 5.4, Specialist Reassessments & What Happens If You Fail (2026 Guide)
Short Answer
Most serving police officers in England and Wales must pass an annual Job-Related Fitness Test (JRFT), typically Level 5.4 on the 15-metre shuttle run. Specialist roles such as Firearms and Public Order require higher levels. Failure does not automatically lead to dismissal, but it may result in restricted duties, support plans, or removal from specialist roles.
Regulation-grounded guidance on the 15m JRFT for all serving constables and specialist units.
Detailed analysis of the Stage 1-3 failure protocol and the professional capability process.
What Is the
Annual Fitness Test?
The Job-Related Fitness Test (JRFT) is a mandatory annual requirement for all police officers in England and Wales who are required to be operationally deployable. It is the primary measurement of an officer's ability to safely carry out physical duties.
Unlike the recruitment process, which serves as a gateway to entry, the annual fitness test is a condition of ongoing service. It was introduced nationally following recommendations from the Winsor Review of Police Remuneration and Conditions, aimed at ensuring the workforce remains physiologically capable of handling the physical demands of modern policing.
The 15m Multi-Stage Fitness Test
The test consists of a 15-metre shuttle run (bleep test). Officers must run between two lines 15 metres apart, timing their arrival with an audible bleep. The frequency of the bleeps increases at each level, requiring the officer to run faster as the test progresses.
The Purpose: Safety & Capability
The rationale for the test is grounded in *operational safety*. An officer who cannot achieve Level 5.4 is considered to be at a significantly higher risk of physical injury to themselves, their colleagues, and the public when performing dynamic duties like foot pursuits or dynamic containment.
It is important to understand that the JRFT is a functional baseline. It is not intended to measure athletic excellence, but rather to ensure that every officer possesses the minimum aerobic capacity to manage the 'ad-hoc' physical stressors of a standard response shift.
Is Level 5.4
Still the Standard?
02 For the vast majority of Home Office forces in England and Wales, the answer is yes. Level 5.4 on the 15m bleep test remains the national minimum requirement for all regular constables.
No Age Adjustments
Unlike some international forces, the E&W system does not lower the level as an officer gets older. A 55-year-old response driver must hit the same 5.4 as a 19-year-old probationer.
Gender Neutral
The bleep test levels are gender-neutral. The standard is based on the operational demand of the role, which does not change based on the officer's gender identity.
Annual Revalidation
Officers are required to re-pass the test every 12 months. Most forces trigger a notification 3 months prior to ensure the test is booked before the permit expires.
While the 5.4 standard is often criticized for being "too easy" by fitness enthusiasts, it serves as a critical safety floor. However, officers should be aware that failing to meet this standard triggers a formal series of administrative and capability steps that can have significant career implications.
Specialist
Reassessments
Officers in specialist units are subject to significantly more rigorous fitness standards. These are not just "nice to have"; they are a contractual and operational requirement for carrying specialist permits (such as firearms or public order accreditation).
Firearms (ARV / CTSFO)
Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs) and Armed Response (ARV) must pass at Level 9.4. Counter Terrorist Specialists (CTSFO) often face levels as high as 10.5. These tests are conducted annually, and any failure results in the immediate surrender of the firearms permit.
Consequence of Failure
Loss of accreditation, removal from unit, and temporary return to response duties.
Public Order (PSU)
Police Support Unit (PSU) Level 1 and 2 officers (riot trained) generally require a standard of Level 6.3. This acknowledges the massive aerobic strain of operating in full tactical boiler suits, shields, and helmets for long shifts in high-temperature environments.
Operational Endurance
Test failure prevents deployment to protests, football matches, or dynamic entries.
Other Specialist Roles
What Happens
If You Fail?
Failing the annual fitness test is not an automatic disciplinary matter. The police service views it as a "capability" issue rather than misconduct. However, the process that follows is structured, formal, and designed to return you to operational status as quickly as possible.
Immediate Failure
If you fail the test on the day, you are typically removed from deployment immediately. This means you cannot perform duties that require a fitness permit. A welfare conversation takes place, and a retest is scheduled, usually within 6 weeks.
Structured Support
If you fail the first retest, the force must provide a support plan. This often includes a referral to a force physiologist or Occupational Health. You may be placed on restricted duties depending on your force's local policy.
Repeated Failure
Continued failure (usually 3 attempts) triggers a formal capability discussion under the Police (Performance) Regulations. This is a serious administrative hurdle that can involve formal warnings regarding your suitability for the role.
The Non-Misconduct Rule
Failing a fitness test is not a breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour unless there is evidence of a deliberate refusal to participate or a dishonest attempt to bypass the test. You should not be treated as a "wrongdoer."
Can You Be
Dismissed for Failing?
05 The short answer is yes, but it is a long and legally protected road. Dismissal for fitness alone is rare and usually only occurs when an officer is physically unable to perform any role within the force over a sustained period.
The Capability Pathway
If an officer cannot pass the test and Occupational Health determines there is no medical cause, the force can initiate Unsatisfactory Performance Procedures (UPP). This process evaluates whether the officer is capable of fulfilling their contract. If no passing result is achieved after repeated support, a Stage 3 Hearing can result in dismissal with notice.
Ill-Health & Redeployment
If the failure is due to a genuine medical condition or injury, the force's duty changes. They must consider Redeployment to a non-operational role or, in some cases, Ill-Health Retirement (IHR). This is a medical process, not a performance one, and has significant implications for your pension.
Restricted Duties Protection
Most officers who fail the annual fitness test are placed on "Restricted Duties" while they recover or train. While this prevents you from doing front-line work, it protects your salary and service while the capability process plays out.
Welfare
& Officer Fatigue
The "million-pound" problem in police fitness isn't laziness; it's fatigue. The reality of the 2026 policing environment involves 12-hour shifts, cancelled rest days, and consistent high-cortisol events. This environment is hostile to peak physical performance.
Shift Work
The disruption of the circadian rhythm affects hormonal balance, making it harder to burn fat and maintain aerobic capacity compared to a 9-to-5 worker.
Cancelled Rest Days
Overtime and constant deployment remove the essential "recovery window" required for physiological maintenance.
Burnout
Mental fatigue translates to physical lethargy. An officer suffering from burnout will struggle with the "perceived exertion" of the bleep test.
Nutrition
The "patrol car diet" of ultra-processed snacks and caffeine is fuel for short-term alertness but a disaster for long-term fitness testing.
Addressing the Reality
If you find your fitness dropping due to operational pressure, document it. Keep a log of your shifts and rest day cancellations. This can be critical evidence if you enter a capability process and need to demonstrate that the force's own deployment schedule has prevented you from maintaining the standard.
What If
You Are Injured?
07 Injuries are an inherent risk of policing. If you are physically unable to take the JRFT due to a temporary or permanent injury, the force's response is governed by medical evidence rather than performance metrics.
Temporary Exemptions
If you have a short-term injury (e.g., a broken limb or surgery recovery), your GP or Occupational Health can issue a temporary exemption. Your fitness permit will be deferred, and you will likely be placed on sedentary restricted duties until you are cleared to attempt the test again. This does not affect your pay.
Injury on Duty (IOD)
Failing a fitness test due to an injury sustained *on duty* is a specific legal category. While the 5.4 requirement remains, the force must demonstrate significant Reasonable Adjustments under the Equality Act if the injury has left you with a long-term disability. Failure in this context is managed through the medical pension and injury award framework.
Occupational Health (OH) Referral
The OH team are the clinical gatekeepers. If you are injured, they are the ones who decide if you are "Fit for a Modified Test" or "Unfit for Testing." Always ensure your Federation Rep is aware of any OH appointments regarding fitness testing.
Ageing Officers
& The Fitness Standard
One of the most contentious debates in UK policing is the "age-blind" nature of the fitness test. As the retirement age has shifted towards 60 for many, the physiological reality of maintaining a Level 5.4 or higher standard into your late 50s has come under scrutiny.
The Equality Act Conflict
The Home Office argues that the fitness standard is a "proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim"—namely, public safety. However, legal challenges have suggested that a static level may indirectly discriminate against older officers or those with age-related musculoskeletal conditions. Currently, the "Safety First" argument maintains the 5.4 baseline for all.
The Official Rationale
A struggle with Level 5.4 indicates a VO2 max below 35 ml/kg/min. Clinical data suggests that below this threshold, the heart and lungs cannot effectively support the sudden, explosive movement required to save a life or defend oneself.
The Workforce Reality
Many officers in their 50s have decades of "wear and tear." Forcing high-impact shuttle runs on compromised joints can lead to more lost workdays due to training injuries than would be lost to a lower fitness standard.
How To Maintain
Shift-Ready Fitness
09 Maintenance is easier than recovery. For serving officers, the goal isn't to be an Olympian; it's to be "uncancelable"—physically resilient enough that the bleep test is a formality, not a threat.
Micro-Dosing Workouts
Forget the 2-hour gym session. If you are on a busy set, 10-15 minutes of high-intensity kettlebell work or bodyweight lunges in the locker room maintain joint stability and heart rate variability.
Low-Impact Cardio
To hit 5.4, you need aerobic base. Incline walking on a treadmill or cycling is far better for serving officers than road running, as it preserves joints while building the VO2 max required for the bleep test.
Fringe Loading
Get used to moving under slight load. A 5kg weighted vest worn during domestic chores or garden work conditions the core for the weight of the tactical vest and belt.
Officer Fitness
Authority FAQs
Do serving officers have to pass 5.4 every year?
Yes. Under current College of Policing guidance, all operationally deployable officers in England and Wales must complete the Job-Related Fitness Test (JRFT) to a minimum of Level 5.4 every 12 months.
What happens if I fail the bleep test?
You are typically removed from operational duties immediately. You will be given a welfare support meeting and scheduled for a retest, usually within a 6-week window to allow for training.
Can I be dismissed for failing my fitness test?
Yes, it is possible through the Unsatisfactory Performance Procedure (UPP). However, this is a last resort after multiple failed attempts and the provision of structured support plans.
Do firearms officers have higher standards?
Yes. ARV officers must achieve Level 9.4, and CTSFOs often require 10.5+. Failing these higher levels results in the immediate loss of your firearms accreditation.
Is there an age adjustment for the JRFT?
No. The 5.4 requirement is currently age-blind in England and Wales. This means a 59-year-old officer must meet the same aerobic standard as a 19-year-old.
Can I refuse to take the fitness test?
Refusing to take a mandatory safety test without a valid medical exemption could be treated as a disciplinary matter (Failure to Follow a Lawful Order).
What if I am injured on the day of the test?
If you are injured or unwell, you should not attempt the test. You should report it to the training department and seek a medical deferral from your GP or Occupational Health.
Can restricted duties stop me from being promoted?
Generally, no. You can still participate in promotion processes while on restricted duties, though you would eventually need to pass the JRFT to be deployed in your new rank operationally.
Does failing fitness affect my police pension?
Fitness failure itself does not affect your pension. Only if the failure leads to Ill-Health Retirement (IHR) would your pension status be re-evaluated under those specific regulations.
How long do I get between retests?
Most forces allow for a 6-week "remedial window" between the first and second attempt to allow for physiological adaptation.
What happens if I fail three times in a row?
This typically triggers a formal "Stage 3" capability hearing, which is the final step before potential dismissal or redeployment.
Can I be forced to take annual leave to train?
No. Training for a mandatory work requirement should be supported by the force. While you may train in your own time, a force should provide a support plan during work hours if you are in a formal capability process.
Does the 5.4 standard apply to the Special Constabulary?
Yes. Special Constables must meet the same JRFT standards as their regular counterparts to ensure safe deployment on the front line.
What is the bleep test turn-around distance?
The standard UK police JRFT is conducted over a 15-metre distance. This is shorter than the 20-metre distance used in many military or sports contexts.
Can I use an inhaler during the bleep test?
You can use your inhaler before or after the test. If you need to use it during the test, it may indicate your respiratory health is not currently compatible with a timed aerobic assessment, and OH may need to review.
Do detectives have to take the fitness test?
In most forces, yes. If a detective is required to hold an operational permit or could be deployed to support response or public order, the JRFT is mandatory.
What is the "Alternative Fitness Test"?
Some forces offer a treadmill-based Chester Treadmill Walk Test (CTWT) for officers with verified lower-limb injuries that prevent the impact of turning on a bleep test.
Can I request a 20m bleep test instead?
Usually no. The national standard for E&W is 15m. Using a 20m track would require different timing levels to reach the same physiological threshold.
Is the fitness test considered "Working Time"?
Yes. The time taken to conduct the annual fitness test is considered duty time and should be reflected on your roster.
Will failing fitness impact my vetting?
Generally, no. Fitness is a capability issue, not an integrity or financial issue. It only affects vetting if a deliberate attempt to deceive (dishonesty) is uncovered during the process.
Regulation Notice
Police fitness standards for serving officers are governed by the College of Policing and Home Office regulations. However, force-specific policies regarding retesting and capability may vary. Always confirm with your local Training Department or Federation Representative.