Discussion on the height and physical fitness of Gardai.

RacoonQueen

Am I getting old or are these lads far too young to be qualifying as Guards???

https://twitter.com/GardaTraffic/status/974999692185624576

McCrack

Probably the former

LollipopJimmy

They need to reintroduce the height requirements for entrance. Looking at a program on RTE during the week about policing in Temple Bar on St.Patricks day and the absolute state of most of them, one in particular walked briskly after a drunk person and could barely speak he was so out of breath.

martingriff

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

They need to reintroduce the height requirements for entrance. Looking at a program on RTE during the week about policing in Temple Bar on St.Patricks day and the absolute state of most of them, one in particular walked briskly after a drunk person and could barely speak he was so out of breath.

What has height got to do with been out of breath after a run?

wonski

martingriff wrote: »

What has height got to do with been out of breath after a run?

While there is no direct link (but there is) some Gardai I have met were well out of shape, putting it mildly

martingriff

wonski wrote: »

While there is no direct link (but there is) some Gardai I have met were well out of shape, putting it mildly

Again what has been out of shape got to do with height. If there is a facts please link

LollipopJimmy

martingriff wrote: »

Again what has been out of shape got to do with height. If there is a facts please link

There isn't a link but overall the physical appearance of the force isn't great. Not the fault of the members in the most part given they are not fed properly and end up eating fast food every time they are on nights. But look at them compared to other European forces.

Height is one element, the general fitness is another.

martingriff

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

There isn't a link but overall the physical appearance of the force isn't great. Not the fault of the members in the most part given they are not fed properly and end up eating fast food every time they are on nights. But look at them compared to other European forces.

Height is one element, the general fitness is another.

I am not disagreeing however the poster soured started of about height requirement and how unfit they were. When I challenged this is replied there was a correlation between the 2 and proven (in their mind anyway)

tayto lover

wonski wrote: »

While there is no direct link (but there is) some Gardai I have met were well out of shape, putting it mildly

I have been to loads of countries and our police compare very favourably.
I think the uniform needs modernising though.

wonski

martingriff wrote: »

I am not disagreeing however the poster soured started of about height requirement and how unfit they were. When I challenged this is replied there was a correlation between the 2 and proven (in their mind anyway)

I am not saying there is a direct link, and I didn't even bring it up, but it is my observation.

I believe now its all down to BMI when it comes to recruitment, but also believe the force should be respectably looking, and it's not always the case.

RayCun

wonski wrote: »

I am not saying there is a direct link, and I didn't even bring it up, but it is my observation.

I believe now its all down to BMI when it comes to recruitment, but also believe the force should be respectably looking, and it's not always the case.

It isn't all down to BMI there is a fitness test for new recruits.

Not an annual fitness test, obviously.

Still wondering what height has to do with fitness.

martingriff

wonski wrote: »

While there is no direct link (but there is) some Gardai I have met were well out of shape, putting it mildly

The above shows you did and you believe there is a link

wonski wrote: »

I am not saying there is a direct link, and I didn't even bring it up, but it is my observation.

I believe now its all down to BMI when it comes to recruitment, but also believe the force should be respectably looking, and it's not always the case.

SSr0

wonski wrote: »

I am not saying there is a direct link, and I didn't even bring it up, but it is my observation.

I believe now its all down to BMI when it comes to recruitment, but also believe the force should be respectably looking, and it's not always the case.

No surprise really, as they don't have annual fitness tests. Bit stupid IMO.

If I hit over 30 in my BMI and/or fail my fitness tests three times in a specific period, I'm out of a job. Keeps me on top of my training and diet.

wonski

RayCun wrote: »

It isn't all down to BMI there is a fitness test for new recruits.

Not an annual fitness test, obviously.

Still wondering what height has to do with fitness.

Tall people look more respectable and often, from my observation, have a better physical ability.

Can we just stop this anyway, let's just accept we both have our views (different views) on how the police force should look.

pablo128

wonski wrote: »

Tall people look more respectable and often, from my observation, have a better physical ability.

Can we just stop this anyway, let's just accept we both have our views (different views) on how the police force should look.

The height doesn't matter. The baton and pepper spray will still do the same job.

Odelay

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

They need to reintroduce the height requirements for entrance. Looking at a program on RTE during the week about policing in Temple Bar on St.Patricks day and the absolute state of most of them, one in particular walked briskly after a drunk person and could barely speak he was so out of breath.

I'm a tall lad, would easily make the height requirements. However if Peter Stringer was chasing me, I'd be ****ting myself.

punisher5112

RayCun wrote: »

It isn't all down to BMI there is a fitness test for new recruits.

Not an annual fitness test, obviously.

Still wondering what height has to do with fitness.

Let's see I'm 6ft and my mate is 6ft 4....

Garda comes over to put manners on us but they are 5ft 5 in all honesty what are they going to do looking up at us.?????

martingriff

wonski wrote: »

Tall people look more respectable and often, from my observation, have a better physical ability.

Can we just stop this anyway, let's just accept we both have our views (different views) on how the police force should look.

Sorry no this is a discussion website and you made a point and have been asked to defend it. Then you tried to say you did not say there were a correlation but you did. Now you just want us to drop it just because you can not back it up

punisher5112

Odelay wrote: »

I'm a tall lad, would easily make the height requirements. However if Peter Stringer was chasing me, I'd be ****ting myself.

He was like a jack Russell he would nip at your ankels

pablo128

punisher5112 wrote: »

Let's see I'm 6ft and my mate is 6ft 4....

Garda comes over to put manners on us but they are 5ft 5 in all honesty what are they going to do looking up at us.?????

A mouth full of pepper spray each and you'd change your tune.:pac:

punisher5112

pablo128 wrote: »

A mouth full of pepper spray each and you'd change your tune.:pac:

Wouldn't reach though....


The garda would also be affected....

RayCun

punisher5112 wrote: »

Let's see I'm 6ft and my mate is 6ft 4....

Garda comes over to put manners on us but they are 5ft 5 in all honesty what are they going to do looking up at us.?????

Punch you in the balls.

That's a ridiculous argument. Next up, me and my mate are both 6' 6. What is some 5'10 shrimp going to do?

Followed by, me and my mate are both seven foot powerlifters who also have multiple black belts. What is some six foot wimp going to do? And so on.

The job is not to walk around looking intimidating.

AnMuinteoirOg

punisher5112 wrote: »

Let's see I'm 6ft and my mate is 6ft 4....

Garda comes over to put manners on us but they are 5ft 5 in all honesty what are they going to do looking up at us.?????

An asp to side of the leg would probably bring you down to his level :rolleyes:

gozunda

punisher5112 wrote: »

Let's see I'm 6ft and my mate is 6ft 4....

Garda comes over to put manners on us but they are 5ft 5 in all honesty what are they going to do looking up at us.?????

Huh? If there is logic there it does not compute ...
So all guards should be 7ft 4 by your reckoning because you're 6ft and your mate is 6ft 4. :rolleyes:

The average female in this country is 5ft .5 and male is 5ft.10. We dont need all lanky giraffes as Gardai ...

Fcekin heightist ...

pablo128

punisher5112 wrote: »

Wouldn't reach though....


The garda would also be affected....

Lol. You know they spray taller people all the time. I know a couple of people who got sprayed while drunk and getting lippy with gardai and they said your pretty much fcuked for half an hour.

I'm 6'3" myself and if the can came out I'd shut my beak and comply.

wonski

martingriff wrote: »

Sorry no this is a discussion website and you made a point and have been asked to defend it. Then you tried to say you did not say there were a correlation but you did. Now you just want us to drop it just because you can not back it up

But I already answered, what else do you want me to do?

I don't want to drag it for 20 pages. Do you want me to Google about how tall well built people are better fit for service than the short skinny ones?

There are already other posters suggesting there is nothing a baton and pepper spray won't fix, which is a fair point tbh

It's a discussion, I made a point and I do not have to defend it by linking a scientific research to anything I say. And I won't say I was wrong, because it was my opinion on the subject.

I wanted to drop it to run the thread back on its course, not because I was wrong.

RayCun

"Do you want me to Google about how tall well built people are better fit for service than the short skinny ones?"

No, the relevant thing would be to Google evidence that tall people are in shape and short people aren't, because that's what you were saying

gozunda

RayCun wrote: »

wonski wrote:

"Do you want me to Google about how tall well built people are better fit for service than the short skinny ones?"

No, the relevant thing would be to Google evidence that tall people are in shape and short people aren't, because that's what you were saying

Excellent point. I just love the qouted posters logic that height = well built and short = skinny!

rofl

martingriff

gozunda wrote: »

Excellent point. I just love the posters logic that height = well built and short = skinny!

rofl

I don't think the poster was agreeing he was responding to the post above his

martingriff

wonski wrote: »

But I already answered, what else do you want me to do?

I don't want to drag it for 20 pages. Do you want me to Google about how tall well built people are better fit for service than the short skinny ones?

There are already other posters suggesting there is nothing a baton and pepper spray won't fix, which is a fair point tbh

It's a discussion, I made a point and I do not have to defend it by linking a scientific research to anything I say. And I won't say I was wrong, because it was my opinion on the subject.

I wanted to drop it to run the thread back on its course, not because I was wrong.

So no correlation small or tall person can be both fit and both could be unhealthy excellent

gozunda

martingriff wrote: »

I don't think the poster was agreeing he was responding to the post above his

Yes I know that. I was agreeing with that poster and adding an additional comment...

tayto lover

I'm tall so now i can go to China and frighten all their little policemen.

Victor

wonski wrote: »

I don't want to drag it for 20 pages. Do you want me to Google about how tall well built people are better fit for service than the short skinny ones?

Does every member of the Garda need to be intimidating?

What if there is a specific need for a smaller Garda, e.g. when your large garda can't fit through a hole in / climb over a wall / fence?

What if you need a plain clothes / undercover officer?

punisher5112

tayto lover wrote: »

I'm tall so now i can go to China and frighten all their little policemen.

Don't be silly they would karate chop you in half.....

mynamejeff

wonski wrote: »

I am not saying there is a direct link, and I didn't even bring it up, but it is my observation.

I believe now its all down to BMI when it comes to recruitment, but also believe the force should be respectably looking, and it's not always the case.

BMI is a load of poppycock.

I at my fittest many years ago my BMI put me at overweight regardless of the fact that i was playing inter varsity rugby at a high level and capable of running a mile and a half in just over 9 minutes.

BMI seem doesn't take into consideration bone density large muscle mass and body shape differences

Potential-Monke

I was a member for 10 years. I passed the 'fitness' test easily when I joined in 2007. Not exactly a fitness test, but I passed it easily enough, and I was not an active person at the time. Queue 5-7 years of terrible eating, horrible shifts, and the only places being open after a certain hour being a take away. Couple it with the fact that you may not get your break, so preparing something to cook at work was rarely if ever an option. And people have personal preferences, just like I don't like reheated food, so i rarely brought in food. Then, unless you're on the beat, which very quickly became rare due to a lack of numbers, you are more or less sitting for most of the day, be it in the car, at the public office or in the comms room. Eventually, the weight will go on, and there is no requirement to stay fit. Well, there wasn't anyway.

Throw on top of that that most shifts were 10+ hours (after the new roster, prior it was 8 hours min but up to 7 days on the trot), and the last thing I wanted to do when I got home was cook, just wanted to crash, so take-aways (36 of them) willing to deliver. It's very easy to fall into a routine. I put on 3 1/2 stone in those few years, and it took me a long time to find the right way to lose it (again, everyone is different, so what works for one person won't for another). It eventually took me €1500 and 3 months of personal (2-1) training to lose that weight, but I was mentally prepared for it, so that's why it worked.

The thought of keeping myself fit for work came after that, but then they started allowing the RSU an hour out of each shift to train at work, but no, not for the regular, so why should I waste my own time, considering most of it was not mine anyway (court etc on rest days).

So if they want fit Gardaí, they need to either make it part of the job, or an ongoing requirement from joining today and onwards (can't retrospectively do it, not in the contract).

Height, there should be a minimum, but the reason it was dropped as usually the taller people back in the day were best suited to being a Garda. Now, the taller people don't need to become a Garda as there are so many different options out there now. Anyway, policing is not about size and fitness, it's about being able to diffuse situations, and if you have an intimidating Garda in a heated situation, they're less likely to have the calming effect, instead using intimidation to stop anything, which solves nothing in the long run.

But yes, there should be a minimum, but not as strict as it used to be.