A dramatic chase involving 14 police cars, a house nearly burned to the ground by a stray firework and calls about anti-social behaviour.

Eastern Daily Press: PC Daniel Mather and PC Amy Lucas of Breckland Police. Picture: Rebecca MurphyPC Daniel Mather and PC Amy Lucas of Breckland Police. Picture: Rebecca Murphy (Image: Archant)

And that, for Thetford police, was one of their quieter night shifts.

The account in this newspaper by our reporter Rebecca Murphy, who joined officers in Breckland for their Bonfire Night shift and a day shift, is certainly eye-opening.

Many of us think that by watching some police dramas that we know about the job they do - but it is far harder and more challenging than most of us realise.

For a start, they are working long hours at unsociable times - a 6pm to 6am shift is certainly not for the faint-hearted.

Eastern Daily Press: PC Daniel Mather and PC Amy Lucas of Breckland Police. Picture: Rebecca MurphyPC Daniel Mather and PC Amy Lucas of Breckland Police. Picture: Rebecca Murphy (Image: Archant)

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No-one would expect a police officer's work to be easy - but to keep up with the amount of calls coming through, with limited information and changing circumstances, is not something everyone can manage.

Most of all though, our officers put themselves in harm's way and into potentially dangerous situations, just to keep us safe.

For example on Saturday night they pursued a vehicle across the Norfolk countryside, even though it was unclear how the situation would play out.

When a police officer stops us a the roadside, it can be easy to be critical. Equally on a day-to-day basis, you can forget that they are even there.

But no-one should forget the risks they take for the public good.