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12:34pm Tuesday 4th March 2008
FIVE people were arrested after a man and a woman were injured in two separate attacks thought to be connected to a traveller feud.
A woman, in her forties, was assaulted while visiting the Oak Lane site in Crays Hill from the Smithy Fen camp in Cottenham, Cambridgeshire.
The attack happened at about 5pm on Sunday when the woman was at the site for what is believed to be a wedding or christening.
Later that night, a man in his forties from the Oak Lane site in Crays Hill was taken to Basildon Hospital after being cut in the chest with what is believed to be a broken bottle.
He was injured after fighting broke out in the Duke of York pub, in Southend Road, Billericay, at 10.25pm.
Landlord John Harris said: "There was a punch-up and the people involved were escorted out. If someone was cut it must have been outside. Police are now looking at our CCTV."
Earlier in the day, firefighters had to break into a chalet on the Oak Lane site at 2.38pm after reports people were inside as flames from nearby burning rubbish spread.
The fire is being treated as arson, but police do not believe it is connected to the assaults.
Essex Police spokeswoman Donna Veasey said: "We are investigating two allegations of assault.
"The first alleged incident occurred at the Oak Lane traveller site at 5pm, when the victim was a woman, believed to be in her forties, from Cambridge.
"The second is believed to have occurred in the Duke of York.
"A man in his forties was wounded in the chest."
Police confirmed the rubbish fire is being treated as deliberate, but there is nothing to suggest it was linked to the later attacks.
Christine Connor, spokeswoman for Essex Fire and Rescue, said: "We had reports of a shed alight, then a caravan, then we were told people were inside. Firefighters forced entry, but it was empty.
"People living on the site said they would board it up."
Most of the arrests were made in the early hours of yesterday morning, when police armed with Taser guns entered the site.
l A 46-year-old man and 19-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of grevous bodily harm.
A 37-year-old man and two women, aged 39 and 26 were arrested on suspicion of actual bodily hamr. All gave Billericay addresses.
budgie, pitsea exile says...
1:08pm Tue 4 Mar 08
Goran, nr Dole Farm says...
1:57pm Tue 4 Mar 08
L87Nor, Billericay says...
4:59pm Tue 4 Mar 08
Bob Hopeless, Bas says...
6:34pm Tue 4 Mar 08
Vernon, Basildon says...
6:48pm Tue 4 Mar 08
paul, rayleigh says...
8:14pm Tue 4 Mar 08
Bozo, Westcliff says...
8:56pm Tue 4 Mar 08
paul wrote:whats the point, this goes on in every pub doesnt it?
these lowlife scum sell cocaine in the travellers joy pub all weekend or should i say intimidate people into buying it they have been doing this for at least 3 yrs now but the public are too scared to say anything
paul, rayleigh says...
9:03pm Tue 4 Mar 08
Bozo wrote:not forcing people to buy it no and its only the police that dont no that drugs have been on dale farm since day 1 but to a lot bigger scale now dirty filthy scum
paul wrote: these lowlife scum sell cocaine in the travellers joy pub all weekend or should i say intimidate people into buying it they have been doing this for at least 3 yrs now but the public are too scared to say anythingwhats the point, this goes on in every pub doesnt it?
Bozo, Westcliff says...
9:13pm Tue 4 Mar 08
paul wrote:I didnt know, but it makes sense as to how they afford other homes, lorries and those top of the range trailers. You dont get that by doing a few dodgy drives...
Bozo wrote:not forcing people to buy it no and its only the police that dont no that drugs have been on dale farm since day 1 but to a lot bigger scale now dirty filthy scumpaul wrote: these lowlife scum sell cocaine in the travellers joy pub all weekend or should i say intimidate people into buying it they have been doing this for at least 3 yrs now but the public are too scared to say anythingwhats the point, this goes on in every pub doesnt it?
Kim Gandy, Rayleigh says...
11:05pm Tue 4 Mar 08
midnight warrier, wickford says...
11:33pm Tue 4 Mar 08
Kim Gandy, Rayleigh says...
11:52pm Tue 4 Mar 08
midnight warrier wrote:James is conspicuous by his absence today. I wonder why. Perhaps he is consuming a large slice of Vernon's humble pie - with gravy and all the trimmings, or perhaps he's mediating in another outbreak of violence.
Not sure if there is any connection with the events at Dale Farm but there was a big kick off today in Hovefields. Men wielding baseball bats and women and children screaming, just another li vely day living with this poor hard doneby ethnic minority. I think not! hurry up and see the reality James.
the undertaker, crays hill says...
6:46am Wed 5 Mar 08
Vernon, Basildon says...
7:13am Wed 5 Mar 08
Kim Gandy wrote:I often go onto Dale Farm as part of my job, and it amazes me how many young school age kids are around when they should be at school.As we all know, whenever evictions are talked about, the first line of defence from travellers is that their kids need to go to school!
midnight warrier wrote: Not sure if there is any connection with the events at Dale Farm but there was a big kick off today in Hovefields. Men wielding baseball bats and women and children screaming, just another li vely day living with this poor hard doneby ethnic minority. I think not! hurry up and see the reality James.James is conspicuous by his absence today. I wonder why. Perhaps he is consuming a large slice of Vernon's humble pie - with gravy and all the trimmings, or perhaps he's mediating in another outbreak of violence. As for screaming children - they are usually very evident on any documentary about travellers, thrust, as they are, into the forefront of any activity with the intention of showing how wicked and evil the bailiffs are and how hard done by they are by those nasty men from the council. It is noticeable how women and children are always in the front line of any press photos or TV footage. Hmmm... wonder why that is as well. Could be to do with the fact that the men are too busy plying their various illegal trades or perhaps they don't want us to see the ugly face of Dale Farm/Hovefields/wher e-ever Sooner or later they will do themselves a huge disservice that even this stupid, witless, moronic government can't ignore. But it will be too late by then. It always is too late. This country is resounding with the loud clang of stable doors. You don't have to look that far back in recent history to see stable doors wide open and horses that have long since bolted. Getting the picture yet James? In order to do that you need to look at the much bigger picture of this country over the last 11 years since this scumsucking, warmongering, moneygrubbing and wholly despicable and corrupt government came to power.
the undertaker, crays hill says...
8:16am Wed 5 Mar 08
the undertaker, crays hill says...
8:18am Wed 5 Mar 08
the undertaker wrote:I might add that kim gandy will know the exact figures, as i believe she was involved with it in some capacity.
On a single day last year there were supposed to be about 76 in attendance,But there were only two in attendance....! It was at one time one of the best schools for the children to attend but since the influx of the so called irish travellers it has become the worst.
wtf?, says...
12:54pm Wed 5 Mar 08
watatwat, Billericay says...
2:20pm Wed 5 Mar 08
wtf? wrote:yes your'e quite right, lets all bury our heads in the sand and take it right up the arris!
Good grief there's a lot of bitter and twisted people on here isn't there. Careful you don't get an ulcer, people - all that hatred and unhappiness can't be good for you.
Bas in my heart, London says...
3:49pm Wed 5 Mar 08
wtf?, says...
4:26pm Wed 5 Mar 08
watatwat wrote:What you do in your own time is your business, but I think you might want to be careful.
wtf? wrote: Good grief there's a lot of bitter and twisted people on here isn't there. Careful you don't get an ulcer, people - all that hatred and unhappiness can't be good for you.yes your'e quite right, lets all bury our heads in the sand and take it right up the arris!
ShipShape, Basildonk says...
5:19pm Wed 5 Mar 08
genghis, cambridge says...
4:04am Thu 6 Mar 08
Tony, says...
12:02pm Thu 6 Mar 08
genghis wrote:Engage your brain and find out what you are talking about before you comment on other people. Given the current situation under nu-labour don't you think that people know that the travellers are committing crimes and have told the authorities but as usual nothing is done about it, what are you suggesting, taking the law into you own hands? Also could you explain your last paragraph please.
I presume the way the site at crays hill is spoken about, all the travellers on there have exactly the same morals. Just like everyone on a council estate are carbon copies of each other. I'm sure people near the site have a legitimate grievance with some residents who may or, for all I know, may not flout the law. Unfortunately for those affected, some of the language used on here and used in wider society gives credence to travellers' claims that it is pure discrimination. The more public spirited of you, and that includes failed prospective local councillors, should set up a proactive neighbourhood watch scheme and stop your bleating if you want something "done" about miscreants, wherever they come from, committing crimes where you live. And if where you live there is a resoundingly loud clang of stable doors, you should ask yourself if you're a farmer, or anything else which lives on a farm.
???, Wickford says...
2:24pm Thu 6 Mar 08
paul wrote:I'm not for the travellers or anything, in fact i think they should b*gger off too - but how do you "intimidate people into buying it " Paul!?!
these lowlife scum sell cocaine in the travellers joy pub all weekend or should i say intimidate people into buying it they have been doing this for at least 3 yrs now but the public are too scared to say anything
James, Dale Farm says...
7:53pm Fri 7 Mar 08
Scared, Right Here says...
1:51pm Sat 8 Mar 08
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Camperman, Essex says...
12:49pm Tue 4 Mar 08