The police are often chastised when they fail to do their job, and even worse when they kill people while trying to make an arrest.

Many of these incidents are greeted with cries of injustice, yet when a cop has done his job even to the point where he could have lost his life, the reviews and commendation are few.

On Monday, THE STAR carried an article about a policeman who arrested a pickpocket in Mandeville, Manchester, without firing a shot. The thief was held after a long chase, which ended with the cop nursing stab wounds and retrieving some of the stolen items.

The policeman should be commended for a job well done. It is interesting to note that the article also reported that although the policeman chased the thief around the market shouting for help, none was offered by the crowd which stood by and watched.

We are not advocating that people should risk their lives, but the article did not report that anyone ran to the nearby police station to get help.

Our society does not recognise that while police have sworn to serve and protect, they are also human beings and helping and commending them for a job well done will have a positive impact.

We also need to remember that protecting our society is everybody's business, and so by sitting down and not offering a helping hand, even to the police when needed, will only help to drive the country down a dark path.