BMI (Body Mass Index)
These medical standards apply specifically to applicants for the following roles: student police officer, transferee and re-joiner, special constable, police community support officer (PCSO), and detention officer. The guidance below outlines the requirements all candidates in these roles must meet to progress through the recruitment process.
To meet the national medical standards for policing roles, all applicants must fall within the required body mass index (BMI) range.
The acceptable BMI range is: BMI between 18.5 and <30
If an applicant’s BMI is below 18.5 or <30 and above, they will be referred to our Occupational Health & Wellbeing Team for a full body composition assessment. This enables us to assess overall health and physical readiness beyond BMI alone.
Applicants who are referred will be provided with up to 12 weeks to meet the required BMI or body composition standard. During this period, applicants will receive evidence-based advice on achieving changes safely and sustainably.
We recommend that applicants check their BMI before applying to help reduce delays in the recruitment process. Your BMI can be calculated using your height and weight. Tools are available online to support this, including: Calculate your body mass index (BMI) for adults – NHS
If the BMI or body composition standard cannot be met safely within the 12-week period, applications will be reviewed on a case by case basis, and further information and advice will be provided regarding the progression of the application.
If you have any questions about BMI standards or medical eligibility, please contact the Recruitment Team in the first instance at police.recruitment@hampshire.police.uk
If required, your query will be referred to the Occupational Health & Wellbeing Team for specialist advice.