COLCHESTER’S MP Sir Bob Russell has welcomed moves to improve the fitness of police officers.
 

In 2006 he asked the then Home Secretary to introduce fitness assessments and measures to improve fitness.
 

Hazel Blears, the then minister for policing, security and community safety, said the Government was considering introducing fitness tests.
 

Now six years later, and following a major review of policing, it is expected to happen - from September 2013.
 

Currently police officers take a fitness test before joining the force but can then go 30 years without another one.
 

In the Metropolitan Police more than 50 per cent of the are overweight and 20 per cent obese with a third of women overweight and 16 per cent obese, according to the report.