strictly speaking, cops shouldn’t confiscate your equipment without a legal cause to do so (sec63 gives them free rein) but they could argue that they are preventing a breach of the peace if you or your crew act stupidly
i would switch off when negotiations become impossible, either because the party has got way out of hand, or because there is open conflict, or because you are being served with sec63. legally speaking, if you are served with sec63 and you switch off and pack up, you haven’t broen the law
some people would surely say that that was giving in. i would say live to party another day
if your party is well thought out and executed then you will reduce the risk of any problems
take some time to check over up-to-date OS maps of the area… if you can’t be heard by any residents, aren’t on protected areas such as SSSIs, national parks or trespassing on private land, blocking public roads, causing a public health hazard by letting people shit everywhere etc etc the cops have no reason to bother you. it’s a tall order to get it all spot on, but the more effort you put in, the better the party and the less hassle you’ll have as a result…
there are enough news reports now of cops saying “party-goers were in danger” etc… unless your party is causing total mayhem to people living nearby, or polluting the land it’s on, the cops are likely to take a fairly pragmatic approach, which is “it’s a party, and someone is taking responsibility, let it carry on”
basically there is no one point that you can define as being the “switch off or lose” moment. it’s just a judgment call you need to make with a level head
