"We will hunt them down and we will find them," said Sgt Rocky Hussain as he and six of his officers turned into a dimly-lit cul-de-sac.
"Tonight we're in Ipswich searching for someone wanted in connection with a knife-related incident."
Approaching the front porch of a semi-detached house, the group split into two.
Three officers circled around the rear as the remaining four covered the front.
"We like to ensure the property is surrounded," said PC Felix Avery.
These are the tactics used by the aptly named Kestrel unit, a specialist group of highly trained officers from Suffolk Constabulary.
From knife crime to county-lines drug dealing, Kestrel's remit is to tackle criminal threats that emerge in specific areas of the county.
"We swoop in like a Kestrel and disrupt," said Sgt Hussain, leader of the south Suffolk team - which covers Ipswich, Felixstowe and surrounding villages.
"You could say we're like a rock you throw into a flowing river.
"We obstruct those that need obstructing."
With the officers now in position, one of them knocked at the door and called out a name.
There was no response.
"There's movement inside," said Sgt Hussain as a member of his team shone a torch through the kitchen window.
They knocked again.
This time, someone came to the door.
"Can we come in?" asked PC Avery.
Police intelligence had notified Kestrel that those living in this home knew the wanted person - and there was even a chance that they could be hiding out there.
As three officers stepped inside to carry out a search of the property, the remaining members of the unit began their questioning.
The individual was not inside, but one of the residents passed on their phone number.
"Time to move on to the next one," said Sgt Hussain.
Prior to the beginning of this search, the unit carried out an intelligence briefing at the new police station in Princes Street.
This address was to be just the first in a series of homes the wanted individual could be at.
"We need to get to the next place as fast as possible," said Sgt Hussain as the unit returned to their cars.
"The chances are that they're now on the phone to the person we're looking for and are warning them."
The officers carried out visits to another four homes.
"Sometimes it's about eliminating addresses," said Sgt Hussain.
"We hope that being persistent will eventually encourage the person to come forward and hand themselves in.
"But if not, we'll find them."
The sergeant called an intelligence officer as he returned to the car.
It seemed there was one final location to check this evening: an abandoned pub on the edge of Ipswich.
"Watch your step in here," said PC Avery as we turned into the car park.
The old bar room was pitch black and the floor was covered in bottle caps and stuffed animals.
The officers climbed rickety stairs as they searched door to door - leaving no area unchecked.
But once again, the wanted individual was nowhere to be seen.
"We'll regroup and head back out," the officers said.
"We've got enough intel here - including a phone number.
"We're persistent and we will hunt them until we find them."
The group returned to their cars to prepare for a late-night patrol of the town - which would ultimately mark the end of a very long shift.
Inside, Sgt Hussain, who is also a trained negotiator, pondered over what kept him motivated in the role.
"For me, this is the best job in the world," he said.
"Kestrel is all about helping people.
"It may sound cliché but I came into this job to make a difference.
"If I can live knowing I've had an impact on one person's life, then for me, life is worth living."
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