Image by: Lis Bailey-Bowler
A pair of police community support officers have been captured on camera playing a game of HOPSCOTCH in the street while on duty.
Comical footage captured the uniformed officers hopping and skipping along the pavement after the markings were painted on the floor by a five-year-old boy.
Derbyshire Police shared the clip after the pair were unwittingly caught on CCTV while on patrol in Matlock, Derbys., on Tuesday (14/4).
The force wrote on Twitter: “Officers in #Matlock have been #CaughtOnCamera… using a hopscotch that a 5-year-old had painted on the floor outside his house.
“Thank you to mum for sharing this footage with us, and to the PCSOs for hopscotching like no-one was watching!”
The force’s Police Contact Centre had earlier tweeted: “Matlock SNT hop, skip and jumping whilst on patrol yesterday!
“Ted Bailey-Bowler (5) with a little help from Mum used his chalks to make some fun for anyone going past and we love it!
“In these difficult times it is important to share things that make others smile! #thankyou.”
Many social media users praised the pair for brightening their day but others were more critical of their actions.
Stephen Carruthers wrote: “Essential travel? No. They clearly left their homes to play on a hopscotch! NOT essential travel.”
Jamie Burgess added: “Should be out catching crooks instead of hopping about the streets. What is this nonsense?”
A web user called Right Hand Of Doom added: “P**s poor social distancing chaps ! Lead from the front be the example.”
Dan Oldfield said: “Surprised that the parents haven’t been fined for it as it’s proof they havent been staying in there home”
However, Zoe Parnell put: “Lovely x keep up your amazing good spirits officers x keep safe x”
Fran Jones added: “Ignore any haters, this is heartwarming to see. Police are human too. In these strange times, we all need a lift.”
Image by: Lis Bailey-Bowler
Image by: Lis Bailey-Bowler
Ted’s mum Lis Bailey-Bowler, 38, said passers-by regularly have a go on the hopscotch but was shocked to see the officers giving it a try.
Mum-of-two Lis, a primary school teacher, added: “It think it’s great. It has made a lot of people smile and that’s what we need at this time.
“It was filmed on our security camera, which we have because we are on quite a busy road.
“My son Ted had wanted to make a hop-scotch and went out with his dad on Easter Monday with the chalks he had got for his birthday a couple of days before.
“I first realised they might have had a go because of a post on the Matlock Community Support Facebook page. They’d posted a picture of officers standing by the hopscotch.
“I recognised it was outside my house and asked them online if they’d had a go. They said: ‘Yes, we did.’
“Then I had a look on the camera to show Ted and found it after scrolling through for ages.
“It took 20-40 minutes until I saw people in high visibility jackets going by.
“I called Ted in from the garden and showed it to him. He thought it was really great and funny and liked it when they stumbled at the end.
“Some of our friends have also tripped up there. It’s regular hopscotch from one to ten with four random triangles and circles at the end.
“Ted thinks no one can do it better than him.
The officers said when we can see people again they would like to come to meet Ted properly.
“I think it’s lovely especially because Ted had his birthday party in lockdown and couldn’t see his friends.
“Having a video call with them wasn’t the same, so anything to cheer him up is welcome.
“This has kept me busy for the past few days with the video going viral. It’s been really weird.
“I’m glad people are enjoying it.”
Video by: Gabriella Petty
