When documentary-makers followed Sussex Police to Bonfire Night celebrations in Lewes, they did not expect to find themselves in a Guy Fawkes role.

But the Meridian TV camera crews got a nasty surprise when they realised one of the effigies burnt at the stake was of a Meridian TV cameraman.

The effigy was accompanied by a mock-up of a pig in a police helmet and banners reading Meridian Surveillance Service and Enemies Of Bonfire.

It is thought organisers had heard the TV teams were collaborating with the police and feared the resulting footage would be used to criticise the event.

Jonathan Marland, executive producer of the new eight-part ITV series Crimefighters, said: "This was a programme purely watching how the police do their job."

Inspector Tim Mottram, who has been policing Lewes Bonfire Night for 12 years, is shown directing officers and trying to control the crowds.

At one point surging spectators have to be held back when an elderly woman faints and an ambulance has to battle its way through.

The cost of policing the event is more than £40,000 and police try to persuade people to stay away unless they live in Lewes.

The crews also trailed beat bobbies in Crawley and armed police patrolling Gatwick for insights into what Mr Marland calls "the gritty end of policing".

This can range from drugs busts, car crashes and foul-mouthed suspects to more bizarre and time-wasting call-outs.

Crawley officer PC Julian Deans is shown visiting one of the force's regular nuisance callers, a known alcoholic who this time claims her name is Samantha Fox.

PC Deans tells the cameras: "She's actually quite funny when you get to know her but sometimes she can be a bit violent."

On this occasion she has phoned to say two men refuse to leave her home.

When PC Deans and another officer arrive, she is alone. She tells the departing officers: "I love you two. Thank you very much."

PC Deans ruefully remarks: "It's nice to be appreciated."

He achieves more of a result when he stops a teenager who is found to have cannabis on him but decides merely to confiscate it.

PC Deans does make an arrest, though, when he stops a car which has been targeted by police tracking class A drug dealers.

He questions one of the men in the car but his attempts to wheedle out information only win a name and address he suspects are false.

It is only when the suspect is taken to the police station he admits his real name and a criminal record for firearms offences.

Legal firearms are carried by two-thirds of Gatwick police officers and they know it can make them intimidating to thousands of holidaymakers.

Their role is to look out for anything or anyone suspicious "from terrorists to truants," as PC Grant McKee puts it.

He says: "For a lot of people an airport is a very stressful place.

"They don't know where they're going and on top of it all, they're faced with armed police officers."

Since the September 11 attacks, airport police have to be alert against terrorist threats.

Help is on hand from trained sniffer dogs.

Patch the dog sniffs out a military explosive placed in luggage as a test - and is given a bouncy ball to play with as a reward.

Even those on terrorist alert need a bit of fun now and again.

The first episode of Crimefighters is at 11pm on Friday, on Meridian.