PCSO fitness question?

[typecastboy]

i think powers of arrest will ruin this job as thats what makes pcso approachable etc

I am in favour of us having powers of arrest, cuffs and so on, but you know what, you do have a point there.

[aws]

u know they need to make a programme on PCSO and what they do and put it on itv so people can see

In Lancs we have just had the "Dispaches" film crew following PCSO's in Blackpool and Blackburn for about 2 weeks - will wait to see the way they portray us as previous "Dispaches" progs have been seen to pick at certain bad points and then blow it all out of proportion

i got out of the filming as i was on leave for that period

Andy

[overthinker1977]

i think powers of arrest will ruin this job as thats what makes pcso approachable etc

I am in favour of us having powers of arrest, cuffs and so on, but you know what, you do have a point there.

Naw, I've experimented a bit with this. Nowt to do with that.
Its the fact on many things we're going to be more tolerant of because we're not in a position to do owt about it. With the real shizzle people though we shouldn't be.
What makes us approachable is the constant footpatrol and contact with the community.
If PC's did that it'd be exactly the same, possibly better. Only thing is its a real bind to get a PC into that position and get them to stay there. i.e not diverted

[Jay]

Refering back to the fitness question, we dont have a fitness test either in West Yorkshire. I would really like to do one too as I like to keep fit. I think it's not right that certain forces have fitness tests and others dont, it sends the message that forces with no fitness test dont really care how fit you are, as long as you get out there and do the job. I dont think that should be the case seen as you spend many, many hours per week on foot patrol.

In my opinion there should be a standard fitness test nationwide, then it's fair for everyone. It doesn't need to be extreme but it should make sure every PCSO has decent level of fitness to do the job. More importantly, to make sure their fitness levels are in no way detrimental to the many tasks they need to carry out.

[Diggerz]

Hi guys I have just past my assesment and I am awaiting my medical as Im told by cambs recruitment that as of yet their is no fitness test. although this is subject to change in the very near future for all forces in the uk.

[Sj66]

Hi
I'm an ex-PCSO (6yrs out of the job) and due to an imminent relocation to Wales am considering applying for PCSO at Dyfed Powys. My worry is that the fitness test I did for Wilts 7yrs ago was different, and now they do the same test as PCs, which sounds really tough. Although I'm reasonably fit (I used to teach aerobics), I just DON'T do jogging, and I'm worried about failing the bleep test.
Does anyone know if the fitness test is generic across all forces now, and if so what does it consist of?
I do have the advantage of being police admin staff now, so I guess I could go to my current force PTI for some training advice.
Thanks
SJ

[Coles489]

SJ,
Not sure about other forces but Dyfed-Powys fitness tests are level 5.4 on the bleep test, and push/pull 35kgs. Should be achieveable with a reasonable level of general fitness. Hope this helps.

[Sj66]

Thanks. Just found out I've got thru paper-sift - great! However, fitness test is on Tuesday - 3 days notice - not so great!! So how easy is 5.4 on the beep test & 35/34kg push/pull without any training?! (I'm reasonably fit, used to teach aerobics but haven't done anything except tap dancing for a couple of years!). It doesn't help that I've only got Monday at work so not really any chance to see a PTI before travelling to Wales Mon evening!

[Sj66]

Well I failed miserably & I'm really annoyed as I had 3 days notice so no time to train, & because of their 'tight recruitment schedule' I can't even go back for a re-test (not what the PTI said at the beginning!) despite passing the written tests with flying colours which others didnt finish!! I wouldn't mind but I've been a PCSO and I know I'm fit enough, but unfortunately my mild asthma let me down on this occasion because of the lack of notice/training

[Bert Moffat]

No offence but 5.4 is a stroll.

[Sj66]

I've no doubt it is... as long as you've had chance to train even for a week before, and aren't asthmatic. Thanks for the support!! I cant even blame my age as a girl half my age gave up at 3.3, way before my lungs gave up. Im obviously not cut out for it anymore so I'll bid you all goodbye & go back to my civvy post sorting out duties for now.