The Sweeney: Thou Shalt Not Kill (ITV 24 Nov 1975, with Dean Harris)

In action packed season two finale Thou Shalt Not Kill a group of villains atttempt to pull off a robbery at the National Mercian Bank but it goes wrong leading to a deadly shoot-out and a dangerous hostage situation.

As a crowd develops Regan leads the police operation to get the hostages out safely.

Much of the episode is devoted to the scene at the bank, with the tension mounting as the minutes tick by. Especially after Haskins turns up and he has to make a decision to allow the marksmen to fire if they get a clean shot. Dean Harris and Robert Lacey are excellent as Wands and Monk, the two villains who end up staying in the bank with the hostages as the rest of the gang attempt and fail to make a getaway.

The situation worsens when, to keep the hostages safe, Haskins agrees to let them go (taking the hostages and money with them). They are able to swap the tracked car they are in for a police car.

The episode was billed to air as the tenth episode of the season but Trojan Bus aired instead. It’s a very strong episode to close out the season though.

production details
UK / ITV – Thames / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Monday 24 November 1975

Writer: Ronald Graham / Director: Douglas Camfield

Series: The Sweeney Season 2 Episode 13

cast
John Thaw as Regan
Dennis Waterman as Carter
Garfield Morgan as Haskins
Ronald Lacey as Barry Monk
Dean Harris as Jimmy Wands
Harriet Philpin as Julie Coulson
Barrie Cookson as Assistant Commissioner
Oliver McFarland as Mrs Dowland
Nick Brimble as Gerry Burtonshaw
Nicholas McArdie as Inspector Wilson
Iris Russell as Miss Lewis
Hubert Rees as Reginald Dowland
Christopher Crooks as Frank Gough
Mike Lewin as Johnson
Stuart McGugan as Hicks
Sally Lahee as Bank Clerk
David Masterman as Greg

TV, ITV, Thames, The Sweeney, Ronald Lacey, Ronald Graham, Douglas Camfield, Dean Harris, Nick Brimble, Stuart McGugan,