Talking about knife crime with the police officers on the frontline and experiencing policing first-hand, DOLLY CARTER spent a night shift patrolling Ipswich.
Our reporter was placed on patrol with PC Dave Cook. (Image: Dolly Carter, Newsquest)
Arriving at Landmark House for the pre-patrol briefing at 11pm, the team were already dealing with 32 live incidents.
Two of these were categorised as their most immediate threats and after just half an hour this number had risen to six.
In the briefing room, the team ran through their plans for the shift ahead, making notes as black and white CCTV images and mugshots flashed across the screen.
Inspector Kieron Pederick. (Image: Dolly Carter, Newsquest)
While they filed out of the room to collect their equipment, Inspector Kieron Pederick explained a few of the operations they were working on.
"Full house," he said, referring to the 17 police officers who had filled the room just minutes before.
Though everyone was present for the public order shift that night, he was still short of the 32 officer target.
"Even if I've got a full team on, we're outnumbered straight away," he added.
I was placed with PC Dave Cook, who has worked with Suffolk Police for six years, and we set off on a drive around Ipswich town centre.
Police constable Dave Cook. (Image: Dolly Carter, Newsquest)
We parked up on Upper Brook Street for a short spell on foot and, within five minutes, PC Cook had been praised as a hero by a tipsy couple, shouted at by an intoxicated man and, unbeknownst to him, a group of men passed by and spat on the ground behind his back.
"Just shows you the range of reaction," he chuckled as we walked away.
Returning to the car, we were alerted to a road traffic collision near Yates, where a member of door staff had reported a drunk driver - they had only made it 100m before crashing.
A road traffic collision involving a drunk driver who had allegedly just left Yates. (Image: Dolly Carter, Newsquest)
When we got to the scene, the driver had already been taken to hospital so we left and began speaking about some of the toughest jobs PC Cook has to deal with on a day-to-day basis.
"The biggest surprise when I joined was the number of mental health call-outs," he said.
He added that one of the most frustrating things was seeing someone be sectioned after an attempt on their life, only for it to happen again just a few days later after their release.
The view from the police car as a patrol was undertaken around Ipswich town centre. (Image: Dolly Carter, Newsquest)
He halts, mid-conversation, listening to the radio intently.
"That's a name I know," he says, as he alters his course to head to a club in central Ipswich.
As he strides out of the car, I catch a glimpse of myself in his body-worn camera and decide that I'll remain a few steps behind on this one.
An arrest was made outside an Ipswich nightclub. (Image: Dolly Carter, Newsquest)
Here, an arrest is made after an injunction has allegedly been breached, and a male is guided into a police van to the soundtrack of party-goers jeering through the windows.
An hour later, with statements taken and CCTV being reviewed, we were back on the road to attend reports of a robbery in an Ipswich park.
Police cars attending a road traffic collision. (Image: Dolly Carter, Newsquest)
In the victim's home, they describe being threatened with a six-inch kitchen knife and we took a short excursion looking for the offender.
I ask PC Cook how his mindset has changed since 18-year-old James Quigley was murdered in broad daylight on Ipswich high street.
"We're always thinking about whether people have knives on them," he says.
Police presence was strong in Ipswich town centre when the patrol took place. (Image: Dolly Carter, Newsquest)
"But on this particular incident, we're more alert for any repercussions."
Again, we're interrupted by his radio - a fight has broken out outside Vodka Revs and we dash to the car, turn on the blue lights and speed to the scene.
Police were called to a fight outside Revolution in the Old Cattle Market. (Image: Dolly Carter, Newsquest)
By the time we arrive, the fight has been mostly contained, with one arrest and plenty of onlookers recording and taunting the police officers.
One officer, I discovered later, had been grabbed by the throat and punched - he returned to duty mere minutes afterwards.
I am struck by something Inspector Pederick had said to me after the briefing four hours earlier: "It can be an uphill battle but they all come in with a smile on their face every day."
Three police officers on patrol in Ipswich town centre. (Image: Dolly Carter, Newsquest)
Spending a night walking the streets of Ipswich is not an activity I would usually relish, particularly on a dark Saturday night, but having witnessed the genuine care these police officers take, I feel much safer in the town where I live and work.
East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star reporter Dolly Carter. (Image: Dolly Carter, Newsquest)
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