This has also happened in 2005 as well with the BBC South when there was lots of raves on the Ridgeway. Hardly surprising when this place makes no attempt to hide itself from google, it has always been the way it has been run here.
BBC went through a spate of asking me and others from round here if anyone wanted to put “their side” across, it was considered but Auntie often can’t or won’t protect sources if recent crime is suspected (they are obliged to give info to Police if approached with a Court Order).
As for the “money” aspect, its more from a different perspective to what it was like in the 1990s or 1980s. Its not like the feds think (or see) people driving around in flash motors etc like wannabe gangstas (although they do take note of the “Ali-G” style chat on some forums)
what they are looking at is how young people without a lot of resources or steady jobs are able to spend and risk loads of money on sound equipment, records etc – they are simply “following the money”.
Most of the “normal” public (even younger people) have already made up their minds that raves are a problem. People got lax during the good times and didn’t think about the wider picture and a massive backlash has erupted.
And just because other forums don’t get on the news doesn’t mean that they aren’t also being closely monitored. Sometimes the cops or media don’t want to give places that they consider to be facilitating crime any free publicity.
