British Police Risk Pay Cuts Under New Fitness Proposal

Posted March 15th, 2012 at 11:50 pm (UTC-5)
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British police officers may have to prove their fitness on an annual basis or risk taking a pay cut.

The proposal is part of a report commissioned by the government that found men and women overweight.

The author of the report, attorney Tom Winsor, surveyed 11,500 officers and staff at London's Metropolitan Police, and discovered 52 percent of male officers overweight, and 32 percent of the women in need losing some pounds. Both groups had some officers classified as morbidly obese.

The police department's review is linked to the country's austerity measures, which call for budget cuts and reforms in public services

The report recommends those failing a fitness test three times risk pay cuts and possible disciplinary action.

Winsor says officers are required to pass a fitness test when hired, but he says the public would be surprised to learn some officers can work 30 years without taking a second fitness test.

The report, which has not been formally adopted by the government also recommends the fitness test, which includes running, should be more challenging in the future.