During the 1970s Police Series were the trend and Phenomena with mystery drama's such as Kojak and Columbo that were sober and in their own right classics. But The Sweeney is far the best Police series ever done at its height and certainly more so then the overrated and juvenile Starsky and Hutch that was targeted specifically for image and not quality and heres the Sweeney is better: - 1. The action and scripts are based more on harsh reality and the challenges facing law enforcement. 2. The scripts on which the scenario of crime is based is realistic and packed with action and within the genre of thriller making it entertaining and enjoyable. The stories also go beyond conventional crime exploring other subjects without loosing its original purpose 3. The series is not cheesy or corny and begins refreshed with new episode that does not drag. 4. The car a 1970s Ford Granada is attractive with sport appeal and mature. the chemistry between the main characters also works with exciting music. in conclusion the Sweeney is the best Police Drama / Thriller as it is genuine and does not drag and is focused on trend and quality

Jack Regan tells various members of the criminal community they are nicked and selected colleagues to "shut it" in this magnificent series which re-wrote the rules of cops and robbers TV drama. Until The Sweeney, scenes involving dialogue between actors travelling in cars employed dodgy back projection which was very noticeable. The Sweeney had a cameraman in the car with the cast while the car is actually being driven. The depiction of violence here was controversial - the thumping Thaw gives Eric Mason in series one closing episode Abduction is particularly brutal - is it justified because he had kidnapped Regan's daughter - we the audience are the judges! Many people cite this series for wrecking numerous Jaguar Mkll saloons - in fact it is an S Type - and there is only one which gets smashed up over and over again ! Bad Apple from series 3 is especially good - with Norman Jones and John Lyons playing corrupt but very effective cops. The closing chase sequence where Thaw and Jones meet at last has scenes filmed at Chertsey lock - into which this correspondent had the misfortune to fall during a Thames boating holiday in 1972! Messenger of the Gods has the taxi driver from Eastenders (Derek Martin)promising that the sexually active young gentleman who "grassed" him (Malcolm McFee, of Please Sir fame) has "earnt 'isself a slappin' " On The Run includes the immortal line where Regan tells a superior that he and Carter (Dennis Waterman) are "working like one armed paperhangers"; and its prequel Taste of Fear features a magnificent portrayal of a new recruit (Norman Eshley) who isn't cut out for life in The Sweeney. Morecambe and Wise appear in Hearts And Minds, much to the amusement of Thaw and Waterman. Witness the end credits where Harry South's reflective theme is matched to evocative black and white stills of John Thaw, Dennis Waterman and Garfield Morgan, who straddle these adventures like colossuses. Watch and enjoy.

The Professionals, Starsky and Hutch and Knightrider. What do they have in common? They have all aged terribly! Have you also noticed that they are all cop shows? Well heres one that hasn't The Sweeney! This show first hit our TV screens in 1975 and even tough it was launched more than 30 years ago is still widely talked about today. The famous scenes with the Jaguars and cortinas, the famous guest appearances, the gun play and gritty realism. But of course we all remember the SHUT IT! The realism all starts at the end of many of the episodes. Such as the episode entitled MAY where the villains get away and are not caught. John Thaw is here in one of his most memorable roles, along with Dennis Waterman. The show was pulled after 4 Series as John Thaw and Dennis Waterman both agreed that they should stop the show before people became less interested. A good idea as many programmes had once been popular but fell into the TV black hole as they were carried on too long.

When it first hit the screens in the mid 70s, "The Sweeney" was the first in a line of gritty, violent British cop shows which also included such series as "The Professionals" and "Dempsey and Makepeace". "The Sweeney" was a radical departure from the comparative coziness and tranquility of long-established shows like "Z Cars" and "Dixon of Dock Green" and portrayed a London full of violent villains brandishing sawn-off shotguns, pick axe handles, sideburns and flared trousers being pursued and often violently brought to justice by John Thaw's no-nonsense Detective Inspector Jack Regan and his sidekick Detective Sergeant George Carter, played by Dennis Waterman. Punch-ups, gunfights and car wrecks abounded, Thaw and Waterman frequently getting blood and grime on their enormous, tasteless ties and winged shirt collars as they strove to uphold law and order on the funky streets of Seventies London. Sometimes they'd introduce themselves to their quarry with lines like "we're The Sweeney, son - and we haven't had our dinner yet" before piling in, fists flying, to make the arrest. Violent, politically incorrect and still great entertainment, even after all these years.