David Wickes' direction and Chris Burt's editing produce a dull package.

…tv spin-off Sweeney! is a blue-collar British alternative to Starsky and Hutch…captures the badinage, camaraderie and black humour of the flying squad… a bracing infusion of mid-70’s British culture...

The story itself is sturdy enough. Where the movie errs is in the character of Regan, who always had a hidden soft side on the series but is presented here as an unsympathetic lout.

The end result is a very entertaining film that arguably doesn't work fully as either The Sweeney or bleakly cynical thriller but is still very good fun.