Accelerating sharply, the patrol car swings into High Street with water spraying from the road as it caught up with a red taxi. Inspector Brett Oakes used his stop light to halt the driver for questioning.

He had spotted the car leaving a side-street just as he was arriving at the scene of a burglary but the taxi driver was found to be clean and was allowed to continue with his journey.

The inspector's Saturday night shift had started almost four hours earlier at 10pm. As the rain poured down, he predicted it would be a "quiet night" as "rain is the best policeman in the world".

At a patrol parade led by the inspector, Sergeant Peter Crowther began allotting duties to a dozen police constables and part-time special constables.

Between 10pm and 4am they were coordinated by shift controller PC Ken Bagguley, who was in radio contact with three cars, one van, one unmarked van and the Austin Maestro driven by Inspector Oakes.

Two Lichfield-based motorway patrol cars were also in the area to supervise a midnight motor rally which was taking place between Hoar Cross and Barton.

The first call of the event was to a Stapenhill housing estate following reports of a break-in. A window had been smashed and Inspector Oakes spoke to residents until other officers arrived on foot to take over the investigation.

Arriving back in Burton it was pub closing time and Inspector Oakes makes one-way conversation with some drunks. "Another pavement pizza? Make sure he gets home safe" was his advice to a vomiting drunk's friend.

Suddenly the radio calls for assistance at a Horninglow shop where a burglar alarm had been activated. Within four minutes, the shop was surrounded front and back.

Inspector Oakes said: "If everyone goes to the front they may as well not bother. And it's pointless revving the engine to get there as thieves often have a look-out listening for sirens and high-revving engines."

The call turned out to be a false alarm. Back at the station the cells were starting to fill with two men hauled in for vandalising a telephone box and setting off fire extinguishers.

Within minutes the Inspector is back in his car heading to reports of a factory break-in. Despite the rain, the inspector drove with the windows down so that he could look under cars and listen for noise.

Loud music and neighbours' complaints take seven police officers and the personnel carrier to a house party. The inspector issues "firm but fair" advice and tells a car-full of guests that Burton isn't the place for a wild party and lots of loud noise.

As the offices return to the station at 2am, they are asked to help attend an incident in Tamworth where 200 hippies were holding an illegal barn party. As the officers prepare to leave for Tamworth, the inspector apologises for it being a "quiet night" and blames the rain.