If plod want to keep the evidance, they can make bitwise copies of everything, then return the hardware.
I'm not sure it's legally that simple. IANAL, but he was arrested because they believed the data ont he devices was not entirely his by right. Making a copy is one thing, but they have no right to return to him "my" data, or "yours" for example.
I commend Mr Love for filing the case himself though!
Biting the hand that feeds IT
