Sailor turned to crime and is seen in the dock (5)
I believe the answer is:
basin
'dock' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'sailor turned to crime' is the wordplay.
'sailor' becomes 'ab' (abbreviation for able seaman).
'turned' says the letters should be written backwards.
'to crime' becomes 'sin' ().
'ab' in reverse letter order is 'ba'.
'ba'+'sin'='BASIN'
'and is seen in the' acts as a link.
This may not be correct. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for basin that I've seen before include "Washbowl" , "Round open dish for water" , "Large bowl" , "Stoup" , "Bowl-shaped vessel" .)