Weighty issue for police specials as hundreds fail BMI test
BURLY police officers were once part of British folklore.
But now it is claimed a new drive to appoint more special constables in East Yorkshire is being undermined by height and weight guidelines for would-be recruits.
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Bobbies on the beat: But could the days of the 'burly' police special constable be numbered?
New figures reveal no fewer than 250 applications from people wanting to be special constables in the Humberside force have been rejected in the past six months.
Police and crime commissioner Matthew Grove believes many fell foul of Home Office guidelines on body mass index (BMI) data, which measures body shape based on height and weight.
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Under the recruitment rules, applicants must not be classed as underweight or overweight as defined by their BMI.
While a BMI score of between 18 and 30 is considered acceptable, those scoring below or above are usually rejected and advised to do something about their weight before being considered again.
Under BMI, a score of 30-plus means someone is obese.
But Mr Grove said the guidelines needed a rethink.
He said: "I know of a number of young lads who play rugby and, as a result, are very fit yet they failed in their applications to become specials because their BMIs were too high.
"It is something I want to challenge because these are the type of people we should be actively encouraging to be special constables.
"They are the sort of people the public would like to see helping regular officers police our towns and city centres on a Friday or Saturday night.
"When people have gone to the effort of attending an recruitment event and taken to the time to fill in an application form, we should not be just turning them away on the basis of a BMI score."
Mr Grove has put emphasis on recruiting more volunteer special constables as a way of boosting police cover in the face of continued government funding cuts for police forces.
He said: "I would like to see more mature people coming forward.
"We also need to improve the way we retain specials because the figures show about one- third of new recruits leave the service after a year."
He said his aim was to see more specials and police community support officers becoming regular officers as a way of coping with natural staff turnover within the force.
He said: "If specials and PCSOs are willing to receive extra training to gain more experience, I believe they should be given every opportunity to become a regular police officer."
10 Comments
by Mildred
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 9:21AM
“Also, I am intrigued to know what specials you know, as if they aren't doing the same job, then they should consider their options.”
by Mildred
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 9:19AM
“23041642
I suspect that you are either:
Ex Police (but if so, you need to know it is not the 1970s anymore)
Ex Military Police (in which case, you will know little of the civilian Police)
A failed/booted out special
Or simply just an armchair warrior with an opinion that, I am afraid to say, is utterly wrong.
Perhaps you will enlighten us???
I agree that the Special Constabulary cannot be relied upon to fill the gaps, but that is because they are VOLUNTEERS, not because they are in ANY WAY incompetent, incapable, or not real.
If I liken the Specials to the Territorial Army, you get upset, although these days, it is a fair comparison. So, how about if I liken them to retained firefighters? Are they any less capable of saving you from your mangled motor car, or rescuing you from a burning house, because they have other jobs, and only do firefighting as and when?
I am intrigued to know why you have such a poor opinion of the Special Constabulary, and why you are so AFRAID to explain. It is easy to sit in your comfy chair and **** someone or something off, but without any just cause or reason to back up your argument, you simply come across as either ignorant, or bitter. Far be it from me to assume which!”
by 23041642
Sunday, March 10 2013, 9:37PM
“Mildred and Kustard
I am happy for you to speculate on what I have and haven't done in my life, you will never know of course... how brave, foolish thick or stupid I may be. You need to understand the nature of these forums... that we are all able to add comment freely without being gratuitously offensive. I don't believe I am (or if so, report me to the police... oh hang on, you don't know how to do the paperwork do you?)
I have obviously hit a nerve with suggesting a lack of self esteem is why some people dress up as pretend cops on a weekend. I also happen to know you don't do the same work as regular coppers as I know some specials. Mildred, please don't give yourself a nose bleed over this and get all upset with yourself.
The point I make is it is wrong to reply upon free staff who the public think are real police officers when this is clearly not the case. It sets a dangerous precedent.”
by Kustard
Sunday, March 10 2013, 9:00AM
“23041642.....
Yet another well thought out comment made by a person I suspect cannot tie their own shoe laces without assistance.
I cannot add anymore than what ''Mildred'' has said. Thanks Mildred but your words will be wasted on this banjo player”
by Col18
Sunday, March 10 2013, 12:44AM
“Id rather have as much BMI between me and trouble on a Hull City home match as possible.”
by dontwo
Saturday, March 09 2013, 7:58PM
“Mr Grove prefers these officers to be built like rugby playing brick sh@thouses does he?. Me, I dont care if the officer is fat,skinny,or prefers rounders to rugby as long as he has enough upstairs to do the job fairly and professionally. Has street violence risen so much that our patrolling officers now have to be Arnold Schwarzeneggers?.”
by Mildred
Saturday, March 09 2013, 4:26PM
“23041642, I am growing sick and tired of your contempt and snide remarks about something you clearly know NOTHING about.
The standard of training has dramatically improved over recent years, and officers while volunteers are professional and can do exactly what any regular can do as well. They are NOT amateurs, and risk their lives the same as their paid full-time colleagues.
You lack of respect is DISGUSTING. Clearly you are an armchair warrior, and so up your own backside it is untrue. Why don't you get out there and do it? Because you daren't!
However, going to the point of fitness, the standard should be a lot higher than it is for both - the standard is identical whether you are paid or not.”
by 23041642
Saturday, March 09 2013, 3:39PM
“Quite right VicMay. Specials are dressed up to loook like regular police officers but are paid nothing. Their 'pay' is their desire to dress up on a weekend and play pretend police whilst the police are happy to have free, amateur enthusiasts. Public beware.”
by VicMay
Saturday, March 09 2013, 2:58PM
“I'd rather Mr Grove was arguing for regular officers and not reliant on part time and part trained specials. But he wont as that's what the Tory government want, Policing on the cheap.”
by ReserveNo3
Saturday, March 09 2013, 10:56AM
“5ft 7in & 210lbs = 32.9 ...... On some sites I'm clinically obese, I put it down to heavy bones and muscle weighing more than fat.”