Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what fitness criteria are set for recruits to the police service; and what measures are in place in the police service to assist police officers to lose weight if necessary.

The standard fitness criteria for recruitment to the police service in England and Wales is that candidates must pass both an endurance fitness test and a dynamic strength test. The College of Policing has published guidance on the tests and a fitness training programme to assist potential recruits.

The management of the health, safety and welfare of police officers, including wellbeing initiatives to assist officers to maintain a healthy weight, is the responsibility of the individual police forces.