The report stated that 3,000 police officers have undertaken a Body Mass Index test over the past two years and 14.5 per cent returned a result of 30 or more.

Victoria Police has more than 11,000 police officers and we do not believe the figures are a true reflection of the organisation's health and fitness levels.

We believe that a vast majority of Victoria Police officers have a sufficient level of health and fitness to carry our their jobs and operational policing is not being compromised because of this.

It should also be noted that the 3,000 members who undertook BMI tests over the past two years would have done so in the interests of enhancing their health and fitness. For example, as part of a gym/fitness assessment.

The Body Mass Index is just one way of measuring a person's health and weight.

BMI does not distinguish between weight due to muscle and weight due to fat, so it does not take into account differences in body composition. That is recording a result over 30 does not necessarily mean you are obese or even overweight.

Victoria Police offers an extensive Employee Assistance Program including qualified health promotion officers whose services include health and fitness assessments and advice on diet, exercise and lifestyle to improve the level of health and fitness of Victoria Police employees.

There are gyms at all 24 hour police stations which are very well utilised.

Police officers in specialist squads such as the SOG and CIRT have time allocated to fitness as part of their daily shifts.

Operational members are regularly required to update their Operational Safety and Tactics Training qualifications so they can continue to be equipped with firearms and other operational equipment. This test would be hard to complete if someone was grossly overweight.

Of those tested in the last two years14.5 per cent of employees returned a BMI of 30 or greater, which is better than the community norm.

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