that is true, most bits of 3 rigs have actually been returned, most of another will be returned soon, i am not sure whats happening to the other systems yet.

however, there is still a serious amount of equipment in the hands of Hampshire Constabulary, and some will be highly unlikely to be returned.

Also even though some stuff has been returned, there is still likely to be charges brought against people for this event and / or hefty fines imposed by the courts (should the proseceaution be successful)

A lesson which can be learned is to make sure if you take a rig out that it is hired from a pa company of which you have the hire documents. or that the equipment is borrowed from people who were unaware of what it was being used for and those people can prove they own it.

if some of the stuff has been returned but not other kit then clearly this is still an active case and everyone should be extremely careful what is said in public, until such time as either the kit is returned/charges dropped or a Court date is announced. if you have info that may assist the defence use the private message system, or better still discuss it face to face or on voice telephone circuits.

unfortunately although there is a habeas corpus rule about unlawful detention of persons, AFAIK no such law exists about property and cops seem to be able to hold it for a considerable amount of time before bringing the case before Court or dropping it.

it is also a bargaining tool which can be used to extract further information from people or for spin purposes. the stuff confiscated by TVP a year ago still does not appear to have been returned.

another thing which is happening now is that cops pass on details of whoever claims the rig kit or involvement with the rave to the “aggrieved” (land / premises manager) so they can launch a civil tort case in the civil courts (which requires a lower burden of proof than a criminal tort case) but is nasty as it can result in bailifs seizing stuff from your home or your credit rating being erased which would affect you if you wanted to set up your own business.

its not the dot-com days any more, money and resources are becoming a lot tighter worldwide after war, terrorism and environmental damage. Even those who have money and power see it slipping away and are fighting to keep hold of it at any costs.

the rest of society is playing the numbers game and counting the costs which IMO is one of the biggest reasons why PEL and civil law is being used to try and make life as difficult as possible for those involved with the rave scene. The ultimate idea seems to be to make these events so costly to put on in terms of financial losses to organisers, that many are forced into getting some form of license and permission from land/building managers, or simply giving up.

There is of course the danger though that removing this relatively low-cost form of social release will merely drive already disaffected young people to binge drinking and more pernicious class A drug use with obvious unwanted consequences to society in increased crime/anti-social behaviour. I personally think that major and violent crime has actually increased since the rave clampdown, particularly in areas where raves used to happen but no longer do so.. at least ketamine keeps down a lot of the anger on the streets today.

raves have always caused “hidden costs” to others, but these were grudingly tolerated in the dot.com days then as there was a lot of spare buildings from bankrupt companies where no-one had a fucking clue who owned what asset, (they were simply abandoned)

Also, the middle englanders who lived around the ridgeway and other outdoor rave venues weren’t quite as bothered about a bit of din when they could at least buy a couple extra bottles of wine or cheap gin knowing their shares were rising in value.

those who farmed had fat subsidies; which are all being slashed. it was also the “cool britannia” time just after blair got in where even middle englanders were supposed to be rediscovering art, music and hedonism…

now things are harsher, it seems that the rest of of society is simply sharing the pain – its in many ways becoming a simple reprisal “why should they have fun at our expense on our resources whilst we work hard?” if this simply sounds like a grumpy old businessman kicking a dog because he had a bad day at work, this is exactly what is going on now.