REPORTS of "dossers" found and arrested on traveller sites have previously featured in the Echo.

In September 2005, we reported how police caught a fugitive during a series of stopchecks with trading standards officers at Hovefields, Wickford.

An 18-year-old man, wanted for failing to appear at court on a charge of going equipped for theft, was arrested at the Jet service station on the A127.

A week earlier, during checks as part of the same operation at the Meadow Lane traveller site, Wickford, a 30-year-old man wanted on suspicion of theft from a vehicle was arrested.

Police said both men were not travellers, but had been living on the sites.

Basildon Council leader Malcolm Buckley, 57, who has lived in Wickford all his life, said he was aware of the use of dossers by local travellers.

He said: "Of course not all travellers are involved, and not everyone who uses people in this way for work and as the fall guy, are from the traveller community.

"But it is something that I am led to believe has gone on for a number of years on some sites."

In January 2007 the Echo reported on a non-traveller living at Hovefields being taken into psychiatric care because of his strange behaviour in the area.

On January 16, at 11pm, police were called because of his erratic behaviour at the Jet service station. He gave police an address at an unauthorised plot in Hovefields Drive.

The 36-year-old was taken into care at Basildon Hospital mental health unit and arrested the following morning.

There was an outstanding warrant for his arrest from Reading Magistrates' Court. He was wanted for theft.