New run times for police recruit applicants will better reflect gender and age differences.
In announcing the results of an updating of the physical requirement standards for police recruits, the General Manager of Human Resources, Wayne Annan, said the revised standards were more in tune with the requirements for comparable agencies in New Zealand and Australia. At present New Zealand Police's run tests were more strenuous than the NZ Army.
Times for the 2.4 km run are now set on a differential basis having regard for age and gender and taking into account the fact that individuals are at their peak fitness between 20 - 29. The run time for males aged from 20 - 29 years remains unchanged (For age and gender differential times see tables below).
Other minor changes have been made to the recruit entry physical appraisal test:
• The wall test comes down to 4ft for recruit applicants though recruits will need to reach the previous 6ft standard prior to graduating from the Police College.
• The grip test appliance has been adjusted to recognise different hand sizes.
• A hip to waist ratio as well as Body Mass Index (BMI) will be used to help determine health. Candidates will no longer fail on the BMI measure alone.
Medical requirements will also change, taking into account improvements in medical technology. People who wear glasses, contact lenses and canal fitted hearing aids will be eligible to join NZ Police. Individuals who suffer from asthma will also be considered. They will be referred to a medical panel for consideration.
Mr Annan said good fitness remained as a critical element in the recruitment of police officers.
"The changes are realistic for today's policing environment. These standards are achievable by motivated applicants with general levels of good fitness. They will still ensure that recruits are at a peak of fitness required to handle the demands of the 19 week course at the Police College.
"If individuals have come close to passing the fitness standards in the past but have not quite got there then we want to hear from them on our 0800NEWCOPS phone line or through the NEWCOPS website," said Mr Annan.
The up-dated standards come into being tomorrow (1 July 2006).
No changes have been made to the Physical Competency Test which serving police officers up to Commissioned Officer rank must sit every two years.
1. Recommended male standards for the 2.4km run are as follows:
Age Standard Pass Time
under 20 years 10 min 51 seconds
20 - 29 years of age 10 min 15 seconds
30 - 34 years of age 10 min 50 seconds
35 - 39 years of age 11 min 30 seconds
40+ years of age 12 min 15 seconds
2. Recommended female standards for the 2.4km run are as follows:
Age Standard Pass Time
under 20 years 12 min 54 seconds
20 - 29 years of age 11 min 50 seconds
30 - 34 years of age 12 min 25 seconds
35 - 39 years of age 13 min 10 seconds
40+ years of age 14 min 10 seconds
Contact for further information:
Media Relations (04) 4749482
A/Hrs (026) 10 10 82