How many times can you fail?
Most UK forces allow 3 attempts during recruitment. If you fail all 3, your application is usually withdrawn.
What Happens
If You Fail?
Retake rules, waiting periods, application impact and annual fitness consequences explained.
Quick Answer
If you fail the police fitness test (Level 5.4 15m shuttle run), most Home Office forces allow two further attempts during recruitment, usually spaced 3–6 weeks apart. If you fail three times, your application is normally withdrawn and you must wait around 6 months before reapplying. Serving officers who fail annual testing are placed on a support plan and may be temporarily restricted from operational duties.
✓ Recruitment Standards
✓ Serving Officer Policy
✓ Last Updated 2026
01
Recruitment Phase:
Recruitment Phase:
First Failure
The moment an applicant misses their third consecutive bleep or fails to touch the line, the test is over. In a high-pressure recruitment environment, this can feel like an immediate doors-closing moment. However, the first failure is rarely a career-ending event.
Who Informs You?
The lead fitness instructor will typically pull you aside immediately after the session. This is a practical, formal notification. You will be told exactly which level you reached and why you were disqualified (usually 'failure to keep pace'). You will receive a formal email from the recruitment team within 48 hours confirming the result and your next steps.
The Emotional Context
It is completely normal to feel a sense of profound rejection. However, instructors see failures every single week. They do not view a failure at 5.4 as a lack of character, but as a temporary physiological gap that needs closing. There is no 'black mark' on your vetting file for failing a fitness test.
The 3-6 Week Window
Standard practice across most Home Office forces is to offer a retake within 3 to 6 weeks. This window is not arbitrary; it is the minimum time required for the body to undergo mitochondrial and respiratory adaptations. If you were only a few shuttles short, you may be invited back sooner. If you struggled significantly, the 6-week window allows for a structured training block.
Remember: Policies vary by force. While the College of Policing provides guidance, the Chief Constable of each force has the final say on recruitment timelines. Always check your specific force's candidate portal for their particular 'Three Attempt' policy.
The Second
Failure
02 Failing a second time is more significant. It signals that the previous 6 weeks of training either didn't happen or wasn't effective. At this stage, the recruitment team will typically move you onto a Structured Improvement Period.
Formal Warning Phase
Following a second failure, the tone of communication changes. You will likely receive a letter or email stating that your next attempt will be your final opportunity to pass for this current recruitment cycle. The pressure is significantly higher, and the force may require you to provide evidence of a training log or a GP clearance before allowing the third attempt.
Despite the increased pressure, you are still an active candidate. The force has already spent money on your medicals, vetting, and assessment centers. They want you to pass. At this stage, many candidates benefit from hiring a specialist coach or significantly increasing the frequency of their shuttle-specific training.
03
Third Failure
Third Failure
& Withdrawal
A third failure is the "hard stop" of the current application process. While it feels final, it is actually a deferral rather than a permanent ban. However, the consequences are immediate and administrative.
Application Withdrawal
Once you fail the third and final attempt, your application is formally withdrawn. Any other pending stages (such as final interviews or uniform fitting) are cancelled immediately. You will be notified in writing that you have reached the maximum number of attempts.
The Cooling-Off Period
You must wait for a specified "cooling-off" period before you can re-apply to the same force. This is typically 6 months, though some forces require 12 months. This is to ensure you have had sufficient time to make a fundamental change to your baseline fitness level.
"If you fail three times, you must re-apply from the
very beginning. You will have to re-sit the National
Assessment Centre (OAC), re-do your vetting, and repeat
your medical from scratch. This is why the third attempt
must be treated with absolute seriousness."
Retake
Timeline Example
04 What does a typical failure trajectory look like? Understanding the timeline helps you manage expectations and plan your training cycles effectively.
W0
First Failure (Level 5.1)
Official notification provided. Immediate cooldown begins. Focus on mechanical analysis of why pace was missed.
W4
Retake 1 (Second Attempt)
Second failure occurs. Formal warning issued. Candidate informed this is the final cycle for this application.
W10
Final Attempt (Third Attempt)
The 'Hard Stop.' If failed, application is withdrawn immediately. Cooling-off period begins.
M6
Re-Application Window Opens
Candidate is eligible to re-apply from the start of the process with a new candidate ID.
Note: These week (W) markers are estimates. Some forces move faster, while others may have longer delays between testing dates due to sports hall availability.
05
Serving Officers:
Serving Officers:
Annual JRFT Failure
For serving officers, fitness testing is an annual health-and-safety requirement rather than a selection hurdle. The Job-Related Fitness Test (JRFT) ensures that officers are capable of performing basic operational duties safely. Failing this test after you are already 'on the job' has a specific, regulated pathway.
Support Plan Activation
A single failure does not trigger disciplinary action. Instead, it triggers a formal 'Improvement Plan.' This involves meeting with Occupational Health or a Force Fitness Advisor to identify if there are underlying medical or lifestyle factors contributing to the failure.
Restricted Duties
Officers who fail may be temporarily restricted from 'frontline' duties. This often means their driving permit (Standard Response or Pursuit) is suspended, and they are moved to a temporary office-based or station-based role until they pass a retest.
Career Protection
It is a common myth that a single fail ends a career. In reality, the force has a legal duty of care. Unless the officer shows a persistent, willful refusal to engage with training over many months, their employment remains secure during the recovery period.
Retake Policy for Officers
Serving officers are typically given a minimum of 8 to 12 weeks before being required to sit a formal retest. This is longer than the recruitment window to allow for a sustainable return to fitness without risking injury. During this time, the officer remains on full pay but may be unable to claim certain operational allowances (such as overtime or on-call) if their role is strictly frontline-only.
Failure to pass after a long period of support (usually 12+ months) can lead to 'unsatisfactory performance' procedures, but this is viewed as a last resort by most forces and and the Police Federation.
Specialist Roles:
The Price of Failure
06 While standard constables must maintain 5.4, specialist roles have significantly higher benchmarks. For these officers, a failure isn't just a personal setback—it has immediate operational capacity implications for the force.
ARV / Firearms (9.4)
CriticalA firearms officer who fails to hit Level 9.4 is immediately decertified. Their weapon permit is withdrawn, and they cannot deploy operationally. They are typically given a strict 4-week window to pass a retest, or they may be permanently returned to standard response duties.
PSU Level 2 (6.3)
OperationalPublic Order officers must maintain 6.3 to deploy at major events (protests, football matches). A failure leads to removal from the 'Public Order' roster. Given the shortage of PSU officers in many forces, this failure is often met with immediate training intervention from the tactical training unit.
Dog Handler
Failure at 5.7 may restrict your ability to take a dog home or lead to training suspension.
CTSFO
Elite level (10.5) failure usually leads to immediate removal from the unit.
Surveillance
Failure at Level 5.4/5.7 can jeopardise your placement on plain-clothes rosters.
Marine Unit
Additional swim test failures are treated with similar gravity to bleep test fails.
07
Common
Common
Myths
"You're instantly rejected."
FALSE. The police force is desperate for high-quality recruits. They will not throw away a candidate who has passed the difficult OAC/Psychometric tests just because they missed a 3-minute run. You are almost always given a second and third chance.
"You only get one attempt."
FALSE. The College of Policing guidelines suggest 3 attempts is the standard for recruitment. Individual forces may vary, but 'one and out' is extremely rare for initial PC recruitment.
"If you fail once, your vetting is affected."
FALSE. Vetting looks at your integrity, finances, and criminal history. Failing a fitness test is a training matter, not a conduct matter. It has zero impact on your security clearance level.
"You can't re-apply."
FALSE. Even if you fail all three attempts and your application is withdrawn, you are typically eligible to re-apply after 6 months. Many serving officers failed their first recruitment cycle fitness test.
Why People
Actually Fail
08 Success in the bleep test is 70% preparation and 30% pacing. Most failures occur not because the candidate isn't "fit enough," but because they fundamentally misunderstood the mechanics of the test.
Starting Too Fast
Level 1 and 2 are a brisk walking pace (approx 8 km/h). Many candidates sprint these levels due to adrenaline. This spikes their heart rate early, meaning they enter the 'anaerobic zone' minutes before they need to. Burnout occurs at Level 4 because of Level 1 energy waste.
Poor Turning Mechanics
Running in "wide circles" instead of a 180° pivot adds up to 1.5 metres per shuttle. Over 35 shuttles, that's over 50 metres of extra running. You lose time and energy. You must learn to touch the line and drive back immediately.
The 15m Turn Trap
Most road runners train for linear speed. The 15m test is a stop-start drill. Without eccentric conditioning in the legs (training to stop), the quads fill with lactate faster than the heart can clear it. Physical fitness is there; the specific conditioning is missing.
Avoid the Failure Trap
09
Can You Appeal
Can You Appeal
A Failure?
Technically, the bleep test is a binary assessment: you either crossed the line before the bleep, or you didn't. Because of this mechanical nature, formal appeals against the result are extremely rare and difficult to sustain. However, there are specific circumstances where a re-test can be granted without it counting as a fail.
Medical Deferral
If you can prove (with a GP note) that you were suffering from an undiagnosed illness or acute injury on the day, the force may strike the failure from your record and offer a fresh attempt. This is much harder to do after the test than before it.
Equipment Malfunction
If the audio system skipped, the floor was dangerously slippery (e.g., a leak), or the track was incorrectly measured, you have grounds for an immediate complaint. This must be raised with the lead instructor on the spot.
Administrative Error
If you reached Level 5.4 but were recorded as 5.3 due to a clerical error, the body-worn video (if present) or instructor logs can be audited. This is why many candidates wear a distinctive color to ensure they are easily tracked in a group of 20.
In 99% of cases, an appeal is a waste of energy that could be better spent on training. If you fail, accept the result, analyze the cause, and move into recovery mode immediately.
Psychological
Impact & Support
10 Failure is a part of professional growth. In policing, you will encounter high-stress situations where things don't go to plan. How you handle a fitness failure is a practical demonstration of your resilience.
Don't Internalize the Failure
Applicants often think: "If I can't even pass a basic run, how can I catch a criminal?" This is a false equivalence. The bleep test is a specialized endurance drill. Failing it doesn't mean you aren't brave, smart, or capable—it simply means your leg muscles weren't conditioned for that specific stop-start density on that day.
Take 48 hours to be frustrated, then pivot. Statistics across Home Office forces show that the vast majority of candidates who fail their first attempt go on to pass their second. You are not "behind"—you are just mid-process.
11
What To Do
What To Do
If You Fail
1
Book the Retake
Don't wait for the recruiter to chase you. Confirm your intent to retake within 24 hours. This shows the force you are committed and proactive.
2
Train for Turns
Stop jogging in straight lines. Mark out 15m and practice 50+ turns per session. Your body needs to learn the 'brake and drive' rhythm.
3
Use the Simulator
The sound of the bleep can be a psychological trigger. Train with the audio in your ears to normalize the pressure of the countdown.
4
Aim for 6.1
Never train for 5.4. On test day, adrenaline and a strange hall will take 10% off your performance. Aiming for 6.1 gives you a guaranteed buffer.
5
Improve Leg Power
Add lunges and squats to your routine. Stronger quads handle the deceleration of the 15m bleep test significantly better.
Fitness Failure
Recovery FAQs
Do you get kicked out of the police?
Serving officers are given support and re-tests. You are not "kicked out" for a single fail, though you may be placed on restricted duties.
Is it the same for men and women?
Yes. The national standard for PC recruitment (Level 5.4) is the same for all genders and age groups.
Does failing affect vetting?
No. Fitness is a training standard, not a conduct or security matter. It does not impact your vetting status.
What if I'm injured?
If you are injured before the test, defer it. Entering the test and failing counts as an attempt. A deferral does not.
Can I reapply?
Yes. After a withdrawal, you must typically wait 6 months (the cooling-off period) before submitting a new application.
Is it different for BTP?
British Transport Police generally align with Home Office standards, but their specialist units have distinct tracking protocols.
What if I fail annual test?
You enter an Improvement Plan and may have operational permits (like driving or firearms) suspended until you pass.
Does it affect probation?
You cannot successfully complete your probation period unless you have passed your fitness requirements.
Do older applicants get adjustments?
No. The operational safety standard (5.4) is non-negotiable for all operational constables regardless of age.
Trust Notice
This guide is based on 2026 College of Policing guidelines and standard Home Office force policies. Direct recruitment rules are subject to change and vary by territory (England, Wales, Scotland, and NI). Always consult your force's official recruitment portal for binding timelines.
Last Updated January 2026