Flying Squad

The Flying Squad

The Flying Squad is one of the elite branches at Scotland Yard who have gained a reputation over the years for courage and determination in combatting the most violent of London's armed robbers and other criminals. Formed in 1919-20 as "the mobile patrol experiment" they had the advantage, from the outset, of forming a highly mobile unit who could operate anywhere in the London area, regardless of local Divisional boundaries.

The first vehicles were the best available, converted Crossley tenders, with experimental radio masts:

Progressively their cars and equipment improved.

For a tough, funny, fast-paced memoir of life in the Flying Squad (nicknamed The Sweeney), read Dick Kirby's book The Real Sweeney, the no-holds-barred real-life account of a London police detective, published by Robinson, London in 2005 (ISBN no 1-84119-911-7) in paperback at £7.99. This can be obtained from good bookshops or through www.amazon.co.uk