The Sweeney (2012 film) Squad's purpose is to investigate commercial armed robberies, along with the prevention and investigation of other serious armed crime. The title is derived from "Sweeney Todd", which is Cockney rhyming slang for "Flying Squad". The film was released on 12 September 2012. Flying Squad officers Detective Inspector Jack Regan (Ray Winstone) and Detective Constable George Carter (Ben Drew) arrive at the scene of a warehouse robbery; four armed men are attempting to steal gold bars. After Regan and Carter capture the robbers, Regan takes some of the gold bars to give to his informant Harry (Alan Ford). Detective Chief Inspector
Flying Squad led to a massive internal investigation by the Dorset Constabulary into the Metropolitan Police Service and the City of London Police, codenamed Operation Countryman. The Flying Squad's work was dramatised in the 1970s British television series "The Sweeney", and two theatrically released feature film spin-offs, "Sweeney!" and "Sweeney 2", starring John Thaw and Dennis Waterman. A further film adaptation, "The Sweeney" (starring Ray Winstone), was released in 2012. In the 1940 George Formby film "Spare a Copper" Formby plays a War Reserve Constable intent on winning admission to a newly formed Flying Squad in Merseyside. In the 2002 video game