Tosh investigates a fire bombing of an Asian shop. Dave and Cathy investigates an Asian lady accused of shoplifting. Cathy thinks there is something going on. Her husband is gambling. Dave and Sgt. Boyden join the game.

Carver is devastated when his final transfer appeal is turned down, ending his hopes of remaining a DC and avoiding tenure. The news that the system is due to be scrapped is even more of an annoyance to Carver, who faces leaving Sun Hill after 14 years. Determined not to lose his local knowledge and experience, Ackland implores him to seek a voluntary transfer to Sun Hill's uniform and exit CID early. His final day in CID sees him pressed by Daly to investigate two cases at once, assisting a bank security manager over disappearing money and a gang of shoplifters running amok. Carver is furious that Skase is insistent on pursuing the case at the bank as a priority, telling him he's only interested because he fancies the security manager, and events escalate when the gang hospitalise a shop owner. However, Skase continues pursuing the bank case with Rawton and they end up uncovering a major fraud, while Carver teams up with McCann to track down the shoplifting gang.

As they enter Sun Hill, PC Vicky Hagen suggests to Matthew Boyden that a short holiday might save their rocky relationship but he is adamant - it's over. Later, they are both part of a team watching the home of the Padfield brothers who are suspected transvestite bashers. The police move in and as Boyden restrains one of the brothers he begins to caution him but does not complete it. Back at Sun Hill, PC Polly Page finds Hagen crying in the locker room. She reveals that despite sleeping with Boyden last night their relationship now appears doomed. Page suggests she moves out for a while. When a witness to one of the assaults identifies the Padfields, CID are confident of getting a result. However, Padfield complains that he wasn't formally cautioned. Despite Boyden's insistence that he was, DCI Jack Meadows demands confirmation from his nearest colleague at the raid. Horrified, Boyden realises it was Hagen. Despite the urgings of Boyden, Meadows and Conway, Hagen refuses to vouch for B