A bent senior officer, Detective Chief Superintendent Jupp, is asked to resign over allegations of corruption, and – just before leaving his post – instructs his subordinate, Regan, to take down the gang.

[citation needed] The film tones down the violence of Sweeney!, although it does contain more nudity and swearing, resulting in its release with an AA-certificate (i.e. restricted to those 14 years and over), instead of the X-certificate (adults only) of its predecessor.

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Like its big screen predecessor, Sweeney 2 is simply content to reproduce the by now tried-and-tested formula of its television model.

The only marked difference is that here Regan is given the freedom to berate both policemen and lawbreakers with all manner of obscenities that on television could only be suggested through John Thaw's inimitably hostile and vituperative playing.

The result looks decidedly old-hat, particularly since the series' basic premise – showing the police to be just as unsavoury and uncompromising as the villians themselves, while still ensuring that Regan and Carter are portrayed as good, honest cops at heart has unquestionably worn thin. ...

None of the set-pieces exhibit any real fair or imagination and as might have been expected, Troy Kennedy Martin's script drags in all the familiar trappings of police brutality and corruption in high places without ever developing them as credible theme.