Fitness Test
The police PREP test is composed of two performance tests to evaluate a candidate’s physical capability (the Pursuit/Restraint Circuit and the Aerobic Shuttle Run). A passing grade for the performance tests involves finishing the Pursuit/Restraint Circuit in 2 minutes and 37 seconds or under and getting to at least Stage 7 in the 20-metre Shuttle Run.
Wear running shoes and exercise clothing while completing the Pursuit/Restraint Circuit components as this is required. You will be provided with a 4kg (9 lb) weighted belt and a 4kg (9 lb) vest to wear during the Pursuit/Restraint Circuit to simulate the weight of standard police equipment.
The Pursuit/Restraint Circuit (Diagram 1 on page 11) simulates a police foot chase that includes obstacles, the control of a person who resists arrest and the dragging of an incapacitated person. Throughout this test, you wear a 4kg (9 lb) weighted belt around your waist and a 4kg (9 lb) vest to simulate the weight of standard police equipment.
The Pursuit/Restraint Circuit is made up of four 25 meter rotations. In the pursuit phase of the test, you will run four laps around a 25 metre (82 ft) circuit as quickly as possible for a total distance of 100 metres (328 ft). During the first and third rotations you will pull yourself up to look over a 1.9 metre (6.5 ft) fence with a toe hold, climb up and down a set of stairs (Figure 2), drop to the floor and crawl under a barrier of 61 cm (24 in). During the second and fourth rotations of the circuit; you will scale a 1.2 metre (4 ft) fence climb up and down a set of stairs and then drop to the floor and crawl under a barrier of 61 cm (24 in), then go first to the Body Control Simulator and then to the Arm Restraint Simulator.
One revolution of the Body Control Simulator is carried out after a 50 meter pursuit and then a second revolution is carried out after an additional 50 meter pursuit. At the Body Control Simulator you push and pull a pair of handles to raise a 35.5 kg (78 lb) weight off the floor (Figures 5 and 6). Start in the center, push the handles until the weights are lifted well above the base, then pull the handle out until the weights are fully lifted above the base and hold the weight up and move to the right until the arm of the machine hits the stopper after moving 90 degrees. Next push the handle in until the weights are fully lifted above the base, hold the weight up while moving back to the center. Next, pull the handle out until the weights are fully lifted above the base, hold the weight up and move 90 degrees to the left. Next push the handle in until the weights are fully lifted above the base, hold the weight up while moving back to the center. This sequence is repeated a second time before moving on to the next component. Note: while moving from side to side, the weights must be fully lifted above the base and the chest is not permitted to come in contact with the Body Control Simulator handle.
One revolution of the Arm Restraint Simulator is carried out after a 50 meter pursuit and then a second revolution is carried out after an additional 50 meter pursuit. At the Arm Restraint Simulator (Figure 7) you fully depress the handles on the grips of both arms of the simulator and bring the arms together. It requires 14.5 kg (32 lb) of force to depress each grip. With the grips constantly depressed, the arms of the equipment are forced together and then returned to their starting position. It takes 16 kg (35 lb) of force to retract each arm.
Lastly, you will grasp a 77 kg (170 lb) mannequin by the handle behind the neck, and drag the mannequin a distance of 15 metres (50 ft) (Figure 8) over a resistive mat and around pylons.