The Gender-Neutral Timed Obstacle Course: a valid test of police fitness?

Abstract

In the light of the Winsor review, UK police forces have been urged to use fitness tests as large-scale cost-effective measures of officers' fitness to work. One test is the Gender-Neutral Timed Obstacle Course (GeNTOC), which must be completed within 3min 45 s, regardless of sex. To investigate if obstacle courses, mimicking a range of police-type activities, can provide a suitable and valid basis for identifying fit and unfit officers and if any other factors may influence test performances. Five years of GeNTOC records were randomly sampled, providing data for 1701 officers. Pass/fail rates were analysed alongside demographics and obstacle performance. Of 1701 candidates, 24% (397) failed GeNTOC (7 and 42% of males and females, respectively). Females failed in two specific obstacles significantly more often than males: the 'body drag' and 'gate weave'. Errors made on these obstacles alone accounted for 49% of obstacle errors made by females. GeNTOC success was significantly associated with candidates who were male, younger, taller, heavier and of lower body mass index (BMI). Of all candidates, 42% were overweight, and 8% were obese. The GeNTOC was not a useful screening tool and worked independently of BMI groups. Too few candidates were appropriately screened out; too many of those failing were female; and too many who passed were overweight or obese. GeNTOC was unfair to female candidates and favoured overweight or obese males. Recommendations are made to adopt alternative fitness tests or to modify the GeNTOC obstacles, testing procedures and data collection.