Before descending on Hove golf course, travellers spent eight days encamped in an empty warehouse yard in East Worthing, next to my business premises. Within minutes of their arrival, we called the police (three months earlier, travellers had caused £60,000 of damage in an adjoining unit by smashing every window in the building during their stay). The police never came. After two days, when the travellers' children had defecated on our front doormat, we called the police again. They never came. On the third day, when the travellers lit a huge bonfire that threatened to set fire to our warehouse a few feet away, we called the police. They never came. So we hired a security firm.

On the fifth day, a security guard was bitten by one of the travellers' dogs (requiring hospital treatment). We called the police. They never came. On day six, at night, three of the travellers' children broke into our warehouse (while security guards were inside). We called the police. They arrived to take a statement, eight hours later at five in the morning.

It takes about a week to evict travellers, even if they have broken in first. If I broke into the warehouse next door, would the police take a week to move me on? No, I would be arrested in minutes. If I took a crap on your doormat and you called the police, I'm sure I would feel the full force of the law.

the do-gooders wish to push through the Traveller Reform Bill and set up the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Commission, fine, go ahead with their money, not ours.

How many of them pay tax and NI contributions? What do they actually contribute to our society? After three visits from them in 12 months, "not a lot" would be my answer.

Mike Roberts

-Managing Director, Sureline Marketing