[imagesource: Brendan Magaar / African News Agency]

There is clearly a shortage of law enforcement resources in the Western Cape.

You only need to look at the deployment of the army in the Cape Flats for evidence of that.

We should give credit where credit is due, though, and the City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security Directorate is currently taking in excess of 12 000 candidates through a set of assessments for the latest metro police and traffic service intake.

This is in addition to other security agencies such as the SA Police Service.

Those assessments kicked off last Monday (July 29), and are expected to last 12 days, with just over 1 000 candidates assessed each day.

Here’s an idea of how tough getting the gig is – out of those more than 12 000 candidates applying, only 120 will get the job.

Candidates will need to tick a number of boxes, including passing a physical test. Despite what you may think after seeing some, umm, rather portly officers out and about, the physical tests are pretty rigorous.

Via BusinessTech, here’s what the City requires of male candidates:

Run 2,4 kilometres in 13 minutes;

Do 30 push-ups in 60 seconds;

Do 45 sit-ups in 60 seconds;

10 shuttle runs in 60 seconds.

Whilst we don’t know the exact specifics of the shuttle run, the exercise requires candidates to run from one line to another before a timed beep, with most tests placing the lines around 20 metres apart.

Running 2,4 kilometres in 13 minutes equates to around 5:42 a kilometre, a pace at which a half-marathon would take just over two hours.

Yes, it’s only a much shorter run, but don’t scoff at the idea.

Add in the push-ups, sit-ups and shuttle runs, and you have qualifications that will automatically rule out many candidates.

Female candidates will have to complete the following:

Run 2,4 kilometres in 15 minutes and 30 seconds;

Do 21 push-ups in 60 seconds;

Do 31 sit-ups in 60 seconds;

10 shuttle runs in 70 seconds.

Again, nothing to scoff at.

Whilst the city’s mayoral committee member for safety JP Smith, admits that those parameters aren’t exactly CrossFit champion numbers, he says they do help with the process.

This from News24:

Smith said the tests are not extremely strenuous but are a means of ascertaining who does not qualify for the next round which are written assessments.

The screening and selection is costly, so doing the physical first is a way of cutting back on these costs.

“They will need to defend themselves in serious altercations. Most people with average levels of fitness will be able to do it [the physical], but it cuts out half or two thirds of the applicants.”

Let’s call that 60%, or around 7 200 out of the 12 000, booted at the first hurdle.

This video was filmed on one of the first days of the assessments:

Here are more boxes that need to be ticked:

According to the advertisement for applications, which closed on July 19, those chosen to do the physical must have a Grade 12, a driver’s licence, no criminal record and be physically fit.

They should be between 18 and 35 years old and will be expected to attend the Metro Police Training Academy in Observatory for 18 months.

Those chosen for the training college will receive an allowance of R4 097.52 per month, according to the advertisement.

Not much to live on for those 18 months of training.

To those that make it through, we appreciate your efforts in trying to keep us safe.

[sources:businesstech&news24]