The movie is based on the novel Samhällsbärarna by Leif GW Persson. Sven Wollter plays inspector Jarnebring for the third time. The first time was a TV-series called Profitörerna. The second time was in Mannen från Mallorca based on another novel by GW Persson called Grisfesten directed by Bo Widerberg. Ernst Günther also appeared in Mannen från Mallorca in a different role.
The movie was criticized by the Swedish Police Force for its portrayal of bad cops.
As preparation, Stefan Sauk went two or three nights a week during three months with a patrolling police car.
The story is loosely based on the well known "Basebollligan" (baseball gang) - a bunch of brutish policemen from Norrmalm (City of Stockholm) who where known to beat up criminals. The group was split up after the death of a drug addict in the beginning of the 1980's. According to one source, they actually played marching music during their beatings.