Back in the 1950s only one in five households owned a car. Even so, it was already becoming clear that increased traffic was becoming a danger to child pedestrians. Two road safety officers, Jock Brining and Dorothy Pummell, working in the two London boroughs of Dagenham and Barking, piloted a scheme to try and help. They recruited ‘active retired gentlemen’, equipped them with lollipop-shaped signs and sent them out to protect children on their way to school. This popular initiative led to the 1953 School Crossing Patrol Act.
Photograph by Sippakorn
School crossing patrols, traffic wardens and the police have the authority to stop traffic.
Only the Police are allowed to stop any vehicle for any reason. Traffic Wardens have some limited powers under specific traffic regulation orders. Your local School Crossing Patrol (SCP) – commonly known as a Lollipop man or woman – has a legal right to stop traffic for any pedestrian, adult or child, who needs to cross a road safely near to a school. Drivers who fail to obey an SCP’s official ‘STOP’ sign risk a £1000 fine and three points on their licence.
Photograph by Oliver Potter
Now four in five households have at least one car and some have two or more.
The number of vehicles on UK roads has risen from 4.7 million in 1953 to 42 million today. We don’t just own more vehicles. We travel further and more frequently. More than half of people in the East Midlands are obliged to drive a car or van to work. School gate parking is a serious concern in many places, and this makes the work of the SCP even more important.
Lollipop men and women are there to get children safely to school and keep the traffic flowing.
This essential community service isn’t as easy as it looks. All SCPs are given full training by the County Council School Crossing Patrol Service. They can go into schools to help to teach road safety. They can report problem parking. They are also the eyes and ears of the community looking out for issues such as bullying or other unacceptable behaviour and passing this information to the school.
Children, parents and teachers all love seeing a friendly face each morning and afternoon.
The hours of work are short but predictable which makes it a great job for a reliable person who has limited capability for work and who enjoys regularity and responsibility. It is also a good way to rebuild your social network after retirement or after a period at home.
Leicestershire County Council are looking for Lollipop men or women.
Find out more about the role by contacting the School Crossing Patrol Service 0116 305 0002 or scpservice@leics.gov.uk
Originally published in the Community Voice (Coalville Edition) June 2025