The events of the episode conclude on Saturday February 14th 1970.
Mention of "The Times" bugging a detective's car references the recent piece of investigative journalism by Garry Lloyd and Julian Mounter. The newspaper presented Scotland Yard with taped evidence that "at least three detectives are taking large sums of money in exchange for dropping charges, for being lenient with evidence offered in court, and for allowing a criminal to work unhindered." Their evidence was printed in the edition published on Saturday 29th November 1969; controversially the team had withheld their findings from the Metropolitan Commissioner until the eve of publication to avoid a cover-up. Like Cullen in this episode, many were shocked that a respected broadsheet had 'stooped' to what were seen as tabloid levels for a front-page story.