A police-mad schoolboy got an early taste of life in uniform after meeting up with local officers.
Five-year-old Leon Wood, who dreams of becoming a police officer when he’s older, was passing by Mansfield Police Station with his dad, Liam, on Thursday afternoon.
Asked by his son if it would be possible to meet a real-life officer, Mr Wood approached reception to ask if any were willing to come and say hello.
PCs Kevin Marshall and Louise Martin, fresh from detaining a shoplifting suspect in Mansfield town centre, were happy to oblige and even let Leon sit in the front of their patrol car.
Mr Wood said: “He absolutely loves the police and likes to watch all the programmes about them on TV. We very rarely come this way so I thought I’d take the opportunity to pop in and see if anyone was available to come and meet him.
“I didn’t know what to expect but I was absolutely delighted when they agreed to come and meet him. They were great with Leon and really made his day.”
Leon, a pupil at Forest Town Primary School, sat in the front of the car, tried on a police helmet and even got to turn the blue lights on.
PC Marshall, of the Mansfield neighbourhood policing team, said: “It was great to meet young Leon and I am sure that in 13 years or so he’ll make a really fine police officer.”
Leon is pictured with PC Louise Martin, PCSO James McKenzie, and PC Kevin Marshall.
