The Sweeney is a 1970s television police drama focusing on two members of the Flying Squad, also a branch of the Metropolitan Police specialising in tackling armed robbery and violent crime in London. The programme's name derives from Sweeney Todd, which will be Cockney rhyming slang for"Flying Squad".The programme has been taken on 16mm film Euston Films, by Thames Television's film division. It aired January 1975 and 28 December 1978 in the 9-10pm weekday slot with repeated showings at precisely exactly the identical time until 1980s. It starred John Thaw as Detective Inspector Jack Regan, and Dennis Waterman as his partner Detective Sergeant George Carter. This has been its prevalence in the UK that it spawned two theatrically released feature film spin-offs, Sweeney! and Sweeney 2.The series aired for the reallife Flying Squad during a dark period. From the 1970 s the Flying Squad was openly censured if you are involved in bribery, authorities corruption and close connections with the fraternity. Unlike the high standards seen from the Sweeney, the actual commander of the Flying Squad, Detective Chief Superintendent Kenneth Drury was convicted of five counts of corruption and jailed for eight years on 7. An internal investigation was then launched to stamp more out corruption. A additional 12 officers were detained and lots of others resigned.