Police bleep test: what level do you need?
The UK police test is a 15m shuttle run. Entry is level 5.4, but specialist roles ask for more. Here's every standard, from recruit to firearms.
| Role | 15m level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Recruitment & annual test | 5.4 | The national standard for joining and for the yearly in-service test (England & Wales). |
| Dog handler | 5.7 | Slightly above entry for the specialist role. |
| Police support unit (PSU) | 6.3 | Public-order trained officers. |
| Authorised firearms officer (AFO) | 7.6 | The armed policing entry standard. |
| Armed response vehicle (ARV) | 9.4 | A significant step up for response firearms roles. |
| Dynamic intervention (AFO) | 10.5 | The highest routine police shuttle standard. |
All of these are on the 15-metre track. See the full 15m level chart for the speeds, distances and times behind each score.
Level Best is awaiting App Store release
College of Policing national and specialist-post standards. Forces can vary; confirm
with your recruiting force. Some non-Home-Office forces (e.g. Police Scotland) now use a different
assessment, see which services still use the bleep test.