The Chester Treadmill Test: the Police Alternative to the Bleep Test
The Chester treadmill police walking test (CTPWT) is the College of Policing's alternative to the 15m bleep test for officers whose lower-limb injuries stop them doing the shuttle turns. You walk at 6 km/h while the gradient rises by 3% every two minutes. The police officer target is 10 minutes, which the College equates to Level 5.4. A running version (CTPRT, 10.4 km/h) is used for armed response vehicle officers (8 minutes) and dynamic intervention AFOs (10 minutes). Your force decides whether to offer either test.
6 km/h
About 3.7 mph, all the way
+3%
Every 2 minutes
10:00
Equivalent to 5.4
12:00
Walk test, equivalent to 7.6
10.4 km/h
ARV 8:00, DIAFO 10:00
The short version
- There are two Chester treadmill tests. The walk test (CTPWT) covers the standard police officer level and every specialist post except ARV and DIAFO. The run test (CTPRT) covers ARV and DIAFO only.
- The College of Policing introduced the treadmill alternative in 2016. It says the tests are designed for officers whose lower-limb injuries stop them completing the shuttle run because of the turn at the end of each shuttle, and that forces decide when to offer them.
- It is not a lower standard. The College links 10 minutes on the walk test to the same estimated aerobic capacity as Level 5.4 (about 35 ml/kg/min).
- Strict pre-test conditions apply: nothing to eat, no smoking, no exercise and no tea or coffee for two hours; no heavy exercise for 24 hours; not recovering from illness or a cold.
- Force policies add their own conditions. The two we read both route the treadmill test through occupational health, and one of them also offers it after a failed shuttle run or while breastfeeding.
Who can take the treadmill test, and who decides
There is no national right to choose the treadmill. The College of Policing sets out the tests and the targets, then leaves the decision to forces. Earlier College guidance recommended the walk test only after an occupational health referral, and the force policies we found still work that way. This is what each source actually says.
| Source | Who it covers | What it says about the treadmill test |
|---|---|---|
| College of Policing, fitness standards page | Officers | Introduced in 2016. Designed for officers with lower-limb injuries that stop them completing the 15m test because of the turning. Individual forces decide when to offer it. |
| College of Policing, implementation guidance (2021) | Officers | Both treadmill tests are alternatives to the 15m shuttle run. Previous guidance recommended the walk test only after an occupational health referral. Everyone, including those taking an alternative test, completes the medical screening questionnaire first. |
| joiningthepolice.co.uk | Candidates | If a disability or medical condition makes the standard test difficult, some forces offer an alternative where you walk or run on a treadmill with a rising gradient. Contact your preferred force to ask. |
| Kent Police SOP O43l (reviewed Sept 2025) | Officers, specials, PCSOs | The walk test is for officers with existing lower-limb injuries, or another condition occupational health considers appropriate. Taking an alternative test must be agreed by occupational health beforehand. |
| Surrey and Sussex policy 1140/2025 | Officers, specials, recruits, some staff | Offered only where the person has failed the shuttle run, occupational health has advised it on medical grounds, or the person is breastfeeding. Supervisors cannot authorise it outside those criteria. Transferring officers can ask for it with up-to-date medical evidence. |
Force policies change and these are two forces only. Read your own force's policy or ask your training or recruitment team. We have not checked every force.
How the walk test runs, minute by minute
The speed never changes: 6 km/h is about 3.7 mph, or 10:00 per kilometre, which is a brisk walk rather than a jog. What makes it harder is the hill. After a warm-up off the treadmill, you stand on the belt with the safety cord attached and walk for two minutes at a comfortable 4 to 5 km/h on the flat to get used to it. The tester then raises the speed to 6 km/h and the test starts.
| Level | Time | Gradient | Belt distance so far | Rough climb so far | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0:00 to 2:00 | 0% | 200 m | 0 m | Check: rating of perceived exertion (RPE) below 18, then the gradient goes up. |
| 2 | 2:00 to 4:00 | 3% | 400 m | 6 m | Check: rating of perceived exertion (RPE) below 18, then the gradient goes up. |
| 3 | 4:00 to 6:00 | 6% | 600 m | 18 m | Check: rating of perceived exertion (RPE) below 18, then the gradient goes up. |
| 4 | 6:00 to 8:00 | 9% | 800 m | 36 m | Check: rating of perceived exertion (RPE) below 18, then the gradient goes up. |
| 5 | 8:00 to 10:00 | 12% | 1,000 m | 60 m | Finishing this level (10:00) meets the police officer standard, about 35 ml/kg/min. |
| 6 | 10:00 to 12:00 | 15% | 1,200 m | 90 m | Only for specialist posts with a higher target. The test can continue for up to two more minutes. |
When the tester stops the test
The College guidance uses a rating of perceived exertion (RPE) chart, which you will be shown before you start. At the end of each level the tester checks your rating. If you rate your effort at 18 or more, or show signs of overtiredness, discomfort or dizziness, the test is stopped and you are allowed to recover. The guidance also says nobody should go beyond the target for their role.
Cool-down
At the end the gradient goes back to 0% and the speed drops to a gentle 4 to 5 km/h. You keep walking until you have recovered and can hold a conversation, normally four to five minutes, then do some gentle stretching off the treadmill.
Belt distance and climb are our own arithmetic from the published speed and gradients (6 km/h for two minutes is 200 m of belt per level; climb is that distance multiplied by the gradient). The climb is a rough illustration of the hill you are walking up, not an official figure. By 10:00 you have walked about 1,000 m of belt and climbed roughly 60 m.
Chester walk test target times
The College gives a walk test time, an estimated aerobic capacity and the matching shuttle run standard for each role. Ten minutes is the base standard. The higher specialist targets run into level 6 at 15% gradient.
| Role | Walk target | Where that falls | Aerobic capacity (ml/kg/min) | Shuttle run equivalent | 15m shuttles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Police officer (personal safety training standard) | 10:00 | End of level 5 (12%) | 35 | 5.4 | 35 (525 m) |
| Marine police unit | 10:00 | End of level 5 (12%) | 35 | 5.4 | 35 (525 m) |
| Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) | 10:00 | End of level 5 (12%) | 35 | 5.4 | 35 (525 m) |
| Method of entry | 10:00 | End of level 5 (12%) | 35 | 5.4 | 35 (525 m) |
| Dog handler | 10:20 | 0:20 into level 6 (15%) | 36 | 5.7 | 38 (570 m) |
| Mounted branch | 10:20 | 0:20 into level 6 (15%) | 36 | 5.7 | 38 (570 m) |
| Police cyclist | 10:20 | 0:20 into level 6 (15%) | 36 | 5.8 | 39 (585 m) |
| Police support unit (PSU) | 10:40 | 0:40 into level 6 (15%) | 37 | 6.3 | 43 (645 m) |
| Air support | 10:40 | 0:40 into level 6 (15%) | 37 | 6.4 | 44 (660 m) |
| Police divers | 11:20 | 1:20 into level 6 (15%) | 39 | 6.8 | 48 (720 m) |
| Marine police (tactical skills) | 11:40 | 1:40 into level 6 (15%) | 40 | 7.2 | 51 (765 m) |
| Authorised firearms officer (AFO) | 12:00 | End of level 6 (15%) | 41 | 7.6 | 55 (825 m) |
Times, aerobic capacities and shuttle standards: College of Policing implementation guidance (2021), pp 11 to 12; police officer row from the College fitness standards page. Shuttle counts are computed from our 15m protocol table; above level 5 that table comes from a secondary source, so treat those counts as approximate. For the shuttle run standards themselves, see specialist role fitness standards.
The Chester treadmill run test for ARV and DIAFO
The run test is a modification of an earlier Chester treadmill test designed for the fire service, adapted for police firearms roles with the highest aerobic standards. The belt runs at 10.4 km/h (about 6.5 mph, or 5:46 per kilometre). The familiarisation is one minute at 8 km/h and one minute at 9 km/h on the flat, then the speed rises to 10.4 km/h over 30 seconds and the test begins.
| Level | Time | Gradient | Oxygen cost (ml/kg/min) | Belt distance so far (about) | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0:00 to 2:00 | 0% | 38 | 347 m | Check: RPE below 18, then the gradient goes up. |
| 2 | 2:00 to 4:00 | 2% | 41 | 693 m | Check: RPE below 18, then the gradient goes up. |
| 3 | 4:00 to 6:00 | 4% | 44 | 1,040 m | Check: RPE below 18, then the gradient goes up. |
| 4 | 6:00 to 8:00 | 5% | 46 | 1,387 m | Finishing this level (8:00) meets the ARV standard, 46 ml/kg/min. |
| 5 | 8:00 to 10:00 | 8% | 51 | 1,733 m | Finishing this level (10:00) meets the DIAFO standard, 51 ml/kg/min. |
8:00
At least 46 ml/kg/min. Shuttle run equivalent 9.4, which is 73 shuttles (1,095 m) on our 15m table. About 1,387 m of belt at 10.4 km/h.
10:00
At least 51 ml/kg/min. Shuttle run equivalent 10.5, which is 84 shuttles (1,260 m) on our 15m table. About 1,733 m of belt at 10.4 km/h.
The College adds a technical note: the run test shows whether you meet the ARV or DIAFO minimum, not your actual maximum aerobic capacity. It also warns that, like the shuttle run, it can be a near-maximal effort for some people. Belt distances ignore the 30-second speed ramp, so they are approximate.
Bleep test vs Chester walk vs Chester run
| 15m shuttle run (5.4) | Chester walk (CTPWT) | Chester run (CTPRT) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | Rises each level, about 7.9 to 9.9 km/h | Fixed 6 km/h | Fixed 10.4 km/h |
| What gets harder | Speed (shorter time per shuttle) | Gradient, +3% every 2 minutes | Gradient: 0, 2, 4, 5, 8% |
| Standard officer target | 35 shuttles, 525 m, about 3:35 | 10:00 | Not used for the standard level |
| Turns | 34 turns to reach 5.4 | None | None |
| Who runs it | Groups in an indoor hall | One person, calibrated treadmill, trained tester | One person, calibrated treadmill, trained tester |
| How effort is checked | Keeping up with the bleeps | RPE chart at each level, stop at 18+ | RPE chart at each level, stop at 18+ |
| Roles | All roles that need personal safety training | Officer standard and specialist posts up to AFO | ARV and DIAFO only |
Shuttle-run figures: College of Policing (35 shuttles, 525 m, 3 minutes 35 seconds); the speed range and time are computed from our shared 15m table. For the shuttle-run chart in full, see bleep test levels explained.
Pre-test rules that differ from the bleep test
The treadmill tests have stricter pre-test conditions than the shuttle run. The College guidance lists them for both the walk and the run test. Your force's joining instructions take priority, but expect something close to this.
If you take beta blockers
The College's pre-test conditions say the person should not be taking beta blocker drugs, because they lower heart rate readings. The NHS describes beta blockers as prescription medicines that work by slowing the heartbeat, used mainly for heart and blood pressure conditions and sometimes for anxiety or migraine.
Never stop or change a prescribed medicine to take a fitness test. Declare it on the screening questionnaire and on the day, and let your GP, occupational health and your force decide what is suitable. We do not know how individual forces handle this, so ask.
Where forces differ from the College figures
Two published force policies show how much the local rules can vary. Neither is a national rule, and both may have been updated since we read them.
Kent Police (SOP O43l)
- The alternative test must be agreed by occupational health before you take part.
- For annual in-service testing the SOP gives the standard as level 3.7 on the shuttle run (22 shuttles on our table) and 8 minutes on the walk test, linked to 30 ml/kg/min. Student officers must reach 5.4 before personal safety training.
- Specialist targets in the SOP match the College times (10:00 to 12:00 walk; 8:00 and 10:00 run).
- The SOP says officers must stay below 14 on the Borg exertion scale to continue, where the College guidance uses 18.
Reviewed September 2025, next review due September 2026. The live page blocked our request, so we read the archived copy of 14 October 2025.
Surrey and Sussex (policy 1140/2025)
- Calls it the alternative job-related fitness test (AJRFT). Offered only after a failed shuttle run, on occupational health advice, or while breastfeeding.
- Recruits, transferees and rejoiners need 5.4 on the shuttle run or 10 minutes on the alternative test.
- For existing officers the interim position is that 3.7 (or 8 minutes walking) is accepted as a pass while the national standard is under review, though the forces still want 5.4.
- Lists treadmills set up for the alternative test for self-led practice, and instructor-led practice sessions.
PDF dated 27 October 2025, read 6 October 2026.
The 3.7 and 8-minute figures above are those forces' in-service rules, not the College standard and not the recruitment standard. The College's own page says it is under review because of the new public and personal safety training curriculum, but it still publishes 5.4 and 10 minutes. Serving officers should check their own force's current policy: see the annual fitness test for serving officers.
Is the treadmill test easier than the bleep test?
We cannot say it is, and nobody should choose it on that basis. The College sets both tests to the same estimated aerobic capacity for each role, and it reports that the University of Chester research behind the treadmill tests (Sykes, 2015) found them valid and highly reliable for checking that minimum. We found no published comparison of pass rates between the two.
What genuinely differs is the type of effort. The shuttle run asks you to brake, turn and accelerate 34 times on the way to 5.4. The walk test asks you to keep walking briskly up an ever steeper slope for ten minutes, with no turns at all. That is why it suits some lower-limb injuries, and why someone who is fine on the flat can still find the last two levels hard. Being good at one does not tell you much about the other, so practise the test you will actually take.
One more practical difference: the treadmill test is one person on one machine with a tester watching your exertion rating, rather than a group in a hall. Some people find that calmer. The College guidance on the shuttle run separately encourages forces to use pacemakers and avoid crowds of onlookers, so ask what support your force offers for either test.
How to prepare for the Chester walk test
This is general training information for people who have already been cleared to train by a GP, physiotherapist or occupational health. If you are being offered the treadmill test because of an injury, the injury comes first: follow the plan your clinician gives you. Our guide to returning to the bleep test after injury covers that stage.
- 1. Get used to brisk walking on a treadmill. Start on the flat at a pace that feels comfortable and build up to 6 km/h for 10 to 15 minutes. If your treadmill shows mph, 6 km/h is about 3.7 mph. Use the safety clip, as the tester will on the day.
- 2. Add incline gradually over weeks, not days. The College's own training advice is to start gently and build up over weeks or months, and to spread sessions through the week rather than doing everything in one day. Steep walking can load the calves, Achilles and shins, so increase the gradient a little at a time and keep rest days between harder sessions.
- 3. Practise the last two levels. Levels 4 and 5 (9% and 12%) are where the walk test is decided for the standard target. Short blocks of a few minutes at those gradients, with easy walking in between, get you used to them without a full test every time.
- 4. Rehearse the protocol occasionally, not every session. A rehearsal is: two minutes easy on the flat, then 6 km/h with the gradient at 0%, 3%, 6%, 9% and 12% for two minutes each. The College says the same about the bleep test: use a practice test to check progress now and then, not as your training.
- 5. Practise the pre-test conditions. Do at least one rehearsal with nothing to eat and no tea or coffee for two hours beforehand, and no heavy exercise the day before, so the real conditions do not surprise you.
- 6. Ask about practice on the force's treadmill. Some forces offer it. Surrey and Sussex, for example, list treadmills set up for the alternative test and instructor-led practice sessions.
Why your gym rehearsal is only a guide
- The College requires a high-quality, calibrated treadmill. A gym or home machine may run faster or slower than its display, and its incline may not match.
- Check your treadmill's maximum incline. Some home machines stop below 12%, which means you cannot rehearse level 5 on them.
- We could not find whether the College protocol lets you hold the handrails. Holding on changes how hard walking uphill feels, so ask your force what is allowed and practise the same way.
Training for the run test is a different job: it is for officers aiming at ARV and DIAFO standards, who will usually be working with their force's firearms training team. The shuttle-run equivalents (9.4 and 10.5) are covered on the specialist standards page.
Three situations, and what usually happens next
Illustrative scenarios built from the guidance, not real cases. Your force's process may differ.
Serving officer, ankle problem
An officer due their annual test has an ankle condition that makes sharp turns painful. They declare it on the screening questionnaire. That triggers an occupational health referral, and occupational health may advise the walk test. Target: 10:00, the same aerobic standard as 5.4. If they fail, the College's support and retake rules for the fitness test apply.
Candidate, old knee injury
A candidate has had knee surgery in the past and worries about turning. joiningthepolice.co.uk says some forces offer a treadmill alternative, so they contact the force before their test date, declare the history at the medical stage and ask. Some forces will say no and expect the shuttle run. That is a force decision.
AFO, recovering from a calf strain
An AFO needs 7.6 on the shuttle run. If their force offers the walk test, the target is 12:00, which means walking all of level 6 at 15%. That is still a hard effort on the calves, so the strain needs to be cleared first. ARV and DIAFO officers would use the run test instead.
Myths about the treadmill test
"It is an easy way out of the bleep test."
It is set to the same aerobic standard and is offered at force discretion, mainly for medical reasons (one force policy we read also allows it after a failed shuttle run or while breastfeeding). It is not a lower bar.
"Every force has to offer it."
The College says it is for individual forces to decide when to offer it, and joiningthepolice.co.uk says some forces offer it to candidates.
"You can run it if you want to go faster."
The walk test is walked at 6 km/h throughout. The run test is a separate protocol for ARV and DIAFO only.
"Keep going as long as you can to show how fit you are."
The guidance says officers should not go beyond the standard for their role. The tester stops at your target, or earlier if your exertion rating reaches 18 or you look unwell.
"A strong coffee will help."
For the treadmill tests the College says no tea or coffee for at least two hours beforehand.
"If I am injured I should just do the treadmill instead."
If you are injured, the first step is a clinician and occupational health, not a different test. Walking uphill still loads injured legs.
What to ask your force or occupational health
- 1Do you offer the Chester treadmill walk test, and on what grounds?
- 2Does it need an occupational health referral, and how long does that take before my test date?
- 3What is my target time for my role: 10:00, or a specialist time?
- 4What are the pre-test rules on food, caffeine, exercise and medication?
- 5May I hold the handrails, and what exertion rating stops the test?
- 6Can I practise on your treadmill beforehand?
- 7If I do not reach the target, how many attempts do I get and how far apart?
- 8Does a treadmill pass count the same as a shuttle-run pass for my role and for personal safety training?
For wider medical questions (asthma, medication, deferrals, appeals), see the medical exemptions FAQ. Candidates may also find the police medical assessment explained useful, and serving officers how the occupational health process works.
Chester treadmill test FAQ
Straight answers, with the source for each.
What is the Chester treadmill test for police?
It is the College of Policing's alternative to the 15m bleep test. In the walking version (CTPWT) you walk at 6 km/h while the treadmill gradient rises by 3% every two minutes. The standard for police officers is 10 minutes. A running version (CTPRT) at 10.4 km/h is used for armed response vehicle (8 minutes) and dynamic intervention AFO (10 minutes) roles.
Who can take the treadmill test instead of the bleep test?
The College of Policing says the treadmill tests are for officers with lower-limb injuries that stop them doing the turns in the shuttle run, and that each force decides when to offer them. joiningthepolice.co.uk says some forces offer a treadmill alternative to candidates whose disability or medical condition makes the standard test difficult. In the two force policies we read it goes through occupational health, so ask your force.
How long do you have to walk on the Chester treadmill test?
Ten minutes for the police officer standard, which the College equates to Level 5.4. Specialist posts walk longer: 10:20 for dog handlers, mounted branch and cyclists, 10:40 for PSU and air support, 11:20 for divers, 11:40 for marine tactical skills and 12:00 for authorised firearms officers.
What speed and incline is the Chester treadmill walk test?
The belt runs at 6 km/h (about 3.7 mph) throughout. The gradient starts at 0% and goes up 3% every two minutes: 3% at 2 minutes, 6% at 4, 9% at 6, 12% at 8 and 15% at 10 minutes for those who need to continue.
Is the Chester treadmill test easier than the bleep test?
It is a different test set to the same aerobic standard, not a lower one. The College says finishing 10 minutes shows an aerobic fitness of about 35 ml/kg/min, the same figure it gives for Level 5.4. It removes the turning, which is why it suits some lower-limb injuries, but we have seen no published pass-rate comparison, so we cannot say it is easier.
Can I ask for the treadmill test because I hate the bleep test?
The guidance does not describe it as a choice of preference. The College describes it as an alternative for officers with lower-limb injuries, at the force's discretion, and the force policies we read tie it to occupational health advice, a previous fail or breastfeeding. Ask your force, but expect to need a medical reason.
What is the Chester treadmill run test (CTPRT)?
It is the running version for the two highest-standard firearms roles. You run at 10.4 km/h while the gradient goes 0%, 2%, 4%, 5% and then 8%, changing every two minutes. Eight minutes meets the ARV standard (46 ml/kg/min) and the full 10 minutes meets the DIAFO standard (51 ml/kg/min).
Can I drink coffee before the Chester treadmill test?
The College guidance says you should not have eaten, smoked, exercised or had tea or coffee for at least two hours before the treadmill test, and should have done no heavy exercise in the previous 24 hours. Follow your force's joining instructions if they differ.
I take beta blockers. Can I do the Chester treadmill test?
The College pre-test conditions say the person should not be taking beta blockers, because they lower heart rate readings. Do not stop or change any prescribed medicine to take a fitness test. Tell occupational health and your GP about the medicine and let them and your force decide what test is suitable.
Can candidates take the Chester treadmill test, or only serving officers?
The College page talks about officers, but joiningthepolice.co.uk says some forces offer the treadmill alternative to candidates. Surrey and Sussex, for example, accept 10 minutes on their alternative test as the recruitment standard, but only where the person has failed the shuttle run, occupational health has advised it, or the person is breastfeeding. Ask the force you are applying to.
How do I practise for the Chester treadmill walk test?
Once a GP or physiotherapist is happy for you to train, build up brisk walking on a treadmill, then add incline gradually over several weeks. A rehearsal on a gym treadmill (6 km/h, gradient up 3% every two minutes to 12%) shows you roughly where you are, but gym machines are not calibrated like the force's, so treat it as a guide only.
What happens if I fail the treadmill test?
The College's fail guidance does not separate the two tests: for serving officers it calls for support, at least two retakes, and at least six weeks between attempts as advisable, with an occupational health referral where the fail is linked to a musculoskeletal complaint or ill health. Surrey and Sussex apply the same retest rules to both tests. Force policies set the detail. For candidates, retake rules are set by the force.
Unprepared for the 15m Bleep Test?
Three tools built from your own answers for the police 15m bleep test (Level 5.4): a 6-week plan, a pass predictor and a weakness analysis. Practice aids, not a guarantee of a pass.
General training information, not medical advice. Stop if you feel pain, dizziness or chest discomfort, and see a GP before you start if you have a health condition, an injury or are pregnant. No tool can guarantee a pass.
Related fitness guides
Sources
- College of Policing, Implementation guidance for fitness testing (August 2021, PDF): walk and run protocols, gradients, target times, aerobic capacities, pre-test conditions, RPE stopping rule, equipment, medical screening, fail and retake guidance (pp 5, 8, 11 to 20, 23). Accessed 6 October 2026.
- College of Policing, Job-related fitness standards: introduced in 2016, designed for lower-limb injuries, forces decide when to offer it, police officer target 10 minutes, "under review" banner. Read via the College's print mirror because the main site blocks automated requests. Accessed 6 October 2026.
- joiningthepolice.co.uk, What's involved in the fitness test: some forces offer a treadmill alternative to candidates where a disability or medical condition makes the standard test difficult. Accessed 6 October 2026.
- Kent Police, Job related fitness test SOP (O43l): occupational health agreement, in-service standards, Borg threshold, specialist table. Reviewed September 2025; read from the Wayback Machine copy of 14 October 2025 on 6 October 2026.
- Surrey Police and Sussex Police, Job Related Fitness Test Policy 1140/2025 (PDF): who is offered the alternative test, recruit and in-service standards, practice treadmills. PDF dated 27 October 2025; accessed 6 October 2026.
- NHS, Beta blockers: what beta blockers are and that they slow the heartbeat. Page last reviewed 4 September 2026; accessed 6 October 2026.
Not verified
- Which forces offer the treadmill test to candidates, and on what grounds. We read two force policies only; others will differ.
- Whether you may hold the handrails during the test. The College guidance does not say.
- How forces handle officers or candidates who take beta blockers. The College pre-test condition exists, but we found no published force practice.
- Any pass-rate comparison between the treadmill tests and the shuttle run. We found none published.
- The College web page and its 2021 PDF differ in two places: the web page lists "Police drivers" at 11 minutes 20 seconds where the PDF says "Police divers", and gives DIAFO's shuttle standard as "10:00" where the PDF says 10:5. We follow the PDF. The web page also omits method of entry, which the PDF lists at 10:00.
- Kent's SOP says the College sets the in-service level at 3.7. The College pages we read (the standards page and the 2021 guidance) still give 5.4, so we treat 3.7 as Kent's (and Surrey and Sussex's interim) local rule, not a College standard.
- Whether the Kent and Surrey and Sussex policies have changed since the versions we read. Kent's next review was due in September 2026.
PolicePay is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the College of Policing or any police force. General training information, not medical advice. Stop if you feel pain, dizziness or chest discomfort, and see a GP before you start if you have a health condition, an injury or are pregnant. No tool can guarantee a pass. Always confirm the test and the target with your force. Last reviewed 6 October 2026.