Every time I see a pair of police officers on the beat, I can’t help but wonder what they’ve faced or are about to face.

But I also always wonder what they themselves are thinking as they walk down the road.

Luckily, I got to find out.

I had the great opportunity to go on a police walkalong through Croydon with the Metropolitan Police.

Sadly, Croydon ranks ninth among the areas with the highest knife crime covered by the Met Police.

So they have launched a new initiative where police officers walk around George Street and Surrey Street Market to see if any suspicious activities are taking place.

I was invited on the late shift which meant I needed to be at Croydon Police Station on Park Lane at 5pm.

When I got to the station, I got to look inside the offices and meet the response team who would be going out that day.

We would be responding to 999 calls as they came in across Croydon.

Soon enough, we headed down to Surrey Street Market to keep an eye on all the activities going on down there.

It was a great experience, what with the air of authority you feel with two police officers with you.

I learnt a lot on that walk, but the most memorable thing I took away is that the use of “Guv’nor” is not just Cockney rhyming slang.

Turns out, “Guv'nor” is a term of respect used to address someone higher in authority, such as a sergeant addressing an inspector.

The officers also told me that being a police officer is nothing like GTA games, but not entirely unexciting either.

The day before I joined them on the walkalong, police had arrested 11 people on Surrey and George Street.

But on the day, I went, it seemed that their new initiative was working as there was only one arrest.

The arrest was for a man who had broken his Community Protection Notice, and this man was well-known to Croydon police, having broken it several times.

(Image: Ezekiel Bertrand)

I also observed how people respond when the police ask how they're doing.

It seems that the mere presence of police can cause individuals to react with hostility, as they often assume the officers are questioning or accusing them of suspicious activity.

However, the officers maintained a respectful demeanour towards everyone they approached.

They often reacted with understandable confusion and frustration when individuals responded negatively, as their intention was simply to engage in friendly conversation and ensure the community's well-being.

According to them, these locations are popular for stashing drugs since they are rarely used for their original purpose anymore.

Once the officer said it was time to head back to the station, the phrase “time flies when you’re having fun” never seemed more apt.

If a day with low crime was this enjoyable, I can only imagine how intense a high-crime day must be.

This walkalong not only revealed some aspects of police work for me but also showed me what it’s like to be part of the frontline effort.

Special thanks to the police officers for taking us around.