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The Sweeney is a British television police drama from the 1970s that focuses on two members of the Flying Squad, a division of the Metropolitan Police that specializes in combating armed robbery and violent crime in London. The title of the program is derived from Sweeney Todd, which is Cockney slang for "Flying Squad." The entire program was shot on 16mm film by Euston Films, the film subsidiary of Thames Television. It initially broadcast on ITV from 2 January 1975 to 28 December 1978 from 9 to 10 p.m. on weekdays, with repeats airing until the early 1980s. John Thaw portrayed Detective Inspector Jack Regan, while Dennis Waterman portrayed his companion, Detective Sergeant George Carter. It was so popular in the United Kingdom that it generated two theatrically released sequels, Sweeney! and Sweeney 2. The show aired amid a difficult time for the actual Flying Squad. The Flying Squad was publicly criticized in the late 1970s for its involvement in bribery, police corruption, and extremely strong ties to the criminal fraternity. On 7 July 1977, Detective Chief Superintendent Kenneth Drury, the actual head of the Flying Squad, was found guilty of five charges of corruption and sentenced to eight years in prison, in contrast to the unwaveringly high standards exhibited by the fictitious Sweeney. Then, an internal inquiry codenamed Operation Countryman was initiated to eradicate additional corruption. Twelve additional cops were convicted, while numerous others resigned.