Editing Flying Squad

{{Short description|Specialist branch of the Metropolitan Police that investigates armed and organised crime}}
{{about|the British police unit|the Italian police unit|Reparto volanti|the documentary television series broadcast|Flying Squad (TV series)|other uses|The Flying Squad (disambiguation)}}
{{distinguish|Metropolitan Police Air Support Unit}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}

The '''Flying Squad''' is a branch of the [[Serious and Organised Crime Command]] within London's [[Metropolitan Police Service]]. It is also known as the '''Robbery Squad''', '''Specialist Crime Directorate 7''', '''SC&O7''' and '''SO7'''. It is nicknamed '''The Sweeney''', an abbreviation of the [[Cockney rhyming slang]] "Sweeney Todd" (rhyming "squad" with "todd").

The squad's purpose is to investigate [[Robbery|robberies]].

== Formation and history ==
The squad was originally formed on an experimental basis by [[Chief inspector#United Kingdom|Detective Chief Inspector]] [[Frederick Wensley]]. In October 1919, Wensley summoned 12 detectives to [[New Scotland Yard|Scotland Yard]] to form the squad. The group was initially named the Mobile Patrol Experiment and its original orders were to perform surveillance and gather intelligence on known robbers and [[Pickpocketing|pickpockets]], using a horse-drawn [[carriage]] with covert holes cut into the canvas.<ref name="methistory">{{cite web |url=http://www.met.police.uk/history/flying_squad.htm |title=History of the Metropolitan Police Service |publisher=[[Metropolitan Police Service]] |access-date=8 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417233856/http://www.met.police.uk/history/flying_squad.htm |archive-date=17 April 2009 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

In 1920, it was officially reorganised under the authority of then [[Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis|Commissioner]] [[Nevil Macready]]. Headed by [[Inspector#United Kingdom|Detective Inspector]] Walter Hambrook, the squad was composed of 12 detective officers, including Irish-born Jeremiah Lynch (1888–1953), who had earned a fearsome reputation for tracking wartime German spies and for building up the case against confidence trickster [[Horatio Bottomley]].<ref name="methistory" /> The Mobile Patrol Experiment was given authorisation to carry out duties anywhere in the [[Metropolitan Police District]], meaning that its officers did not have to observe [[Police division|Divisions]], giving rise to the name of the Flying Squad because the unit operated across London without adhering to divisional policing boundaries.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1016855.stm |title=Flying Squad: The Sweeney's changing face |work=[[BBC News]] |date=10 November 2000 |access-date=8 May 2009}}</ref>

[[File:Crossley 20-25 from Shuttleworth Collection.JPG|thumb|right|Crossley 20/25 Tender (1919)]]

An alternative explanation for the "Flying Squad" name is that the first vehicles used were refurbished [[Crossley Motors]] 20/25 type tenders<ref>[http://www.crossley-motors.org.uk/history/trucks.html Commercial Vehicles] by [[Crossley Motors]]</ref> previously used by the [[Royal Flying Corps]], which were supplied to the [[Metropolitan Police]] in 1920.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kirby |first1=Dick |title=The Guv'nors: Ten of Scotland Yard's Greatest Detectives |date=23 February 2011 |publisher=Casemate Publishers |isbn=978-1-84884-972-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K2XNDwAAQBAJ&dq=progressed+motor+vehicles+two+Crossley+Tenders&pg=PT33 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=guinness>{{cite book |editor-last=Harding |title=Guinness book of car facts and feats |year=1977 |publisher=Guinness Superlatives|location=London |isbn=0-900424-54-0}}</ref>

Throughout the 1920s, the squad was standardised and expanded, and the establishment was expanded to 40 officers, under the command of [[Chief inspector#United Kingdom|Detective Chief Inspector]] Fred "Nutty" Sharpe until his retirement in July 1937. In 1948, the squad was given the designation of C.O.(C.8) for Commissioner's Office Crime 8 and was augmented. By 1956 it made one thousand arrests per year for the first time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.met.police.uk/history/timeline1950-1969.htm|title=Metropolitan Police History – timeline 1950–69|access-date=9 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727184416/http://www.met.police.uk/history/timeline1950-1969.htm|archive-date=27 July 2010|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

From 1978 to 1981 the name was changed to the Central Robbery Squad, but still known as the Flying Squad. It is often referred to by the nicknames the "Heavy Mob" or "the Sweeney" ([[rhyming slang]] for Flying Squad, from [[Sweeney Todd]]).<ref name="methistory" />

This was the era in which the squad's close ties with the criminal fraternity, which had always been a necessary part of its strategy, were being exposed to public criticism. A number of scandals involving bribery and [[police corruption|corruption]] were revealed, and on 7 July 1977, the squad's commander, [[Chief superintendent|Detective Chief Superintendent]] [[Kenneth Drury]], was convicted on five counts of corruption and imprisoned for eight years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cheers to you, Ludovic Kennedy: Simon Heffer on a genial study of the late broadcaster's work to expose police corruption and miscarriages of justice|work=[[Daily Telegraph]]|location=London|date=25 February 2017|page=28}}</ref> Twelve other officers were also convicted and many more resigned. These and other scandals led to a massive internal investigation by the [[Dorset Police|Dorset Constabulary]] into the [[Metropolitan Police Service]] and the [[City of London Police]], codenamed [[Operation Countryman]].<ref>Andrew Walker. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3721695.stm The Sweeney's proud history], [[BBC]], 17 May 2004</ref>

== Notable investigations ==
*In July 1948, the Squad learned of a plan to steal £750,000 (almost £25&nbsp;million in 2019) of bullion, jewellery and other valuables from the BOAC ([[British Overseas Airways Corporation]]) secure warehouse at [[Heathrow Airport]] by drugging the guards.<ref>Fish, Donald. Air-Line Detective. The Sunday Times, 18 September 1960, pages 21/22 Magazine Section</ref> Squad officers replaced the guards and pretended to be drugged, with other officers stationed around the warehouse. When the thieves removed the keys to the safe from Detective Sergeant Charles Hewett, the Squad announced its presence and a violent struggle ensued with many on both sides suffering serious injuries.<ref>Kirby, Dick.  The Sweeney. Barnsley, Pen & Sword Books, 2011. {{ISBN|978-1-84884-390-5}}</ref> The nine offenders received a total of 71 years' imprisonment for what became known as the Battle of London Airport.<ref name="metunits">{{cite web |url=http://www.met.police.uk/scd/specialist_units/flying_squad.htm |title=Metropolitan Police Service – Specialist Crime Directorate |publisher=Met.police.uk |access-date=8 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090110163527/http://www.met.police.uk/scd/specialist_units/flying_squad.htm |archive-date=10 January 2009 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
*In the 1960s, the squad undertook the role of capturing and gathering evidence against the [[Kray twins]], with many officers giving evidence in court.<ref name="metunits"/>
*The squad took up investigating the [[Great Train Robbery (1963)|Great Train Robbery]], which had no firearms involved, but did not catch all of the robbers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1016855.stm|title=Flying Squad: The Sweeney's changing face|work=[[BBC News]]|date=10 November 2000|access-date=21 October 2020|language=en-GB}}</ref>
*Some of the most dangerous work undertaken by the Flying Squad is the "pavement ambush", where police ambush armed robbers during an offence. During Operation Char in 1987, and Operation Yamoto in November 1990, this approach led to three armed robbers being shot dead by police.<ref name="methistory"/>
*On 26 November 1983, £26 million worth of gold bullion, diamonds, and cash was [[Brink's-Mat robbery|stolen from the Brink's-Mat depot]], on a trading estate near [[Heathrow Airport]] in [[West London]]. Flying Squad officers were involved extensively in the investigations which followed to attempt to trace, arrest and convict the gang members involved and their associates.
*In August 1993, an armed robbery occurred at a [[Barclays|Barclays Bank]] in [[Blackfen]] in south-east London.<ref name="Aug1993">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/detective-shot-during-chase-after-van-robbery-automatic-weapon-fired-at-surveillance-team-terry-kirby-reports-1461763.html|title=Detective shot during chase after van robbery: Automatic weapon fired at surveillance team|first=Terry|last=Kirby|work=[[The Independent]]|date=18 August 1993|access-date=21 October 2020}}</ref><ref name="Jun1994">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/armed-robbers-get-18-years-for-machinegun-attack-on-police-1420039.html|title=Armed robbers get 18 years for machinegun attack on police|work=[[The Independent]]|date=3 June 1994|access-date=21 October 2020}}</ref> This made the headlines as being the first time police were fired upon by a machine gun in mainland Britain; one officer was struck in the head by a ricochet<ref name="Jun1994"/> and received the [[George Medal]]. The two robbers were later arrested and sentenced at the [[Old Bailey]].<ref name="metunits"/>
*In November 2000, five men set out to [[Millennium Dome raid|rob the Millennium Dome]] of the flawless {{convert|203.04|carat|adj=on}} [[Millennium Star]], valued at over £200&nbsp;million.<ref name="metunits"/> Originally, police were unsure of the intended location of the robbery, but after months of surveillance, it was realised that the target was the Millennium Dome. On 7 November, the robbers armed with [[smoke grenade|smoke bombs]], [[ammonia]] and a [[nail gun]], crashed into the dome with a stolen [[JCB (heavy equipment manufacturer)|JCB]] [[excavator]] and smashed through to the vault. The robbers planned to escape on the [[River Thames]] by using a speedboat. The police operation to catch the robbers was codenamed Operation Magician, and involved 200 officers, including 40 [[specialist firearms officer]]s (SFOs) from [[Specialist Firearms Command|SCO19]]. Some of the officers were positioned behind a dummy wall, and others were dressed as cleaners with their firearms hidden in black bin bags or in rubbish bins, along with officers in Dome staff uniforms. A further 60 armed Flying Squad officers were stationed around the Thames, and 20 on the river itself, to hamper any escape attempts. The five men were caught and sentenced on various robbery charges. Detective Superintendent Jon Shatford was in command of the operation.<ref name="metunits"/>
*On 17 May 2004, a robbery at the [[Heathrow Airport]] [[Swissport]] warehouse was foiled by officers from the Flying Squad and the Metropolitan Police, as the robbers attempted to steal gold and cash potentially worth £80m.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/the-acirc-pound-80m-sting-how-police-foiled-the-heathrow-bullion-heist-563827.html|title=The £80m sting: How police foiled the Heathrow bullion heist|date=18 May 2004|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=}}</ref> The eight gang members later received between 6 and 13 years each in jail.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4252406.stm|title=Heathrow bullion robbers jailed|date=16 September 2005|work=[[BBC News website]]|access-date=}}</ref>
*On 13 September 2007, the Flying Squad was [[Chandler's Ford shooting|involved in an incident outside a bank]] in the village of [[Chandler's Ford]], near [[Southampton]]. Two suspected armed robbers were shot dead by members of [[Specialist Firearms Command|SCO19]], in support of a Flying Squad operation, who had been lying in wait after receiving a tip off that an armed robbery was imminent. The thieves were attempting armed robbery on a [[G4S]] security van outside the [[HSBC]] branch when they were killed by the SCO19 SFOs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/sep/13/ukcrime.ukguns|title=Two robbers shot dead in failed bank raid|last=Batty|first=David|date=13 September 2007|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=21 October 2020}}</ref>

== In fiction ==
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 (2012 film)|The Sweeney]]'' (starring [[Ray Winstone]]), was released in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/-the-sweeney/5043871.article|title=The Sweeney|first1=Mark|last1=Adams|first2=chief film|last2=critic2012-06-29T08:00:00+01:00|website=Screen}}</ref>

The [[Monty Python]] sketch "Argument Clinic" featured "Inspector Fox of the Light Entertainment Police, Comedy Division, Special Flying Squad", and "Inspector Thompson's Gazelle of the Programme Planning Police, Light Entertainment Division, Special Flying Squad."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://montycasinos.com/montypython/scripts/flyfox.php.html|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20231022164813/https://montycasinos.com/montypython/scripts/flyfox.php.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=2023-10-22|title=Inspector Flying Fox of the Yard}}</ref>

In an episode of the ''[[The Thin Blue Line (British TV series)|Thin Blue Line]]'', Inspector Fowler expresses displeasure at the idea of the Flying Squad using his station for an investigation on the grounds that their members urinate inaccurately.<ref>{{Citation|title=Crime waits for no man {{!}} The Thin Blue Line| date=21 February 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vv3Om985Lk|language=en|access-date=2021-08-03}}</ref> It was also depicted in television shows ''[[Thief Takers]]'' in the 1990s and ''[[The Gold (TV series)|The Gold]]'' in the 2020s.

==See also==
*''[[Bent Coppers]]'', 2003 book detailing police corruption within the Flying Squad

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal |last1=Kirby |first1=Dick |title=The Race Track Gangs |journal=The Peeler |date=7 July 2002 |url=https://eehe.org.uk/?p=24088 |publisher=Friends of the Met Police Museum |via=Epsom & Ewell History Explorer}}
* {{cite book |last1=Kirby |first1=Dick |title=The Guv'nors: Ten of Scotland Yard's Greatest Detectives |date=23 February 2011 |publisher=Casemate Publishers |isbn=978-1-84884-972-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K2XNDwAAQBAJ |language=en}}
* Kirby, Dick.  The Sweeney. Barnsley, Pen & Sword Books, 2011. {{ISBN|978-1-84884-390-5}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Metropolitan Police}}

[[Category:Metropolitan Police units]]
[[Category:Robbery]]
[[category:1919 establishments in England]]