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| Dale Farm traveller site eviction starts with violence | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Bricks and debris were thrown at police as they moved in to prepare the way for bailiffs clearing the illegal part of the UK's largest travellers' site. | Bricks and debris were thrown at police as they moved in to prepare the way for bailiffs clearing the illegal part of the UK's largest travellers' site. |
| Essex Police said two people had been Tasered and one arrested. | Essex Police said two people had been Tasered and one arrested. |
| Officers in riot gear entered the site after breaking down a rear fence just after 07:00 BST, prompting angry scenes. | |
| The travellers lost a last-ditch attempt to stave off the evictions at the Court of Appeal on Monday. | |
| They said police entered the rear of the site during discussions, described by supporters as a distraction, at the main gate. | |
| One caravan at the site has been set on fire. | One caravan at the site has been set on fire. |
| Electricity supplies were cut and protesters wearing masks said this had turned off crucial medical equipment belonging to elderly residents. | Electricity supplies were cut and protesters wearing masks said this had turned off crucial medical equipment belonging to elderly residents. |
| One resident said she had been hit by a baton. | |
| 'Heavily outnumbered' | 'Heavily outnumbered' |
| The BBC's Jeremy Cooke, who is inside the camp, described it as a "very dramatic situation". | The BBC's Jeremy Cooke, who is inside the camp, described it as a "very dramatic situation". |
| He said the protesters were "heavily outnumbered by the police". | He said the protesters were "heavily outnumbered by the police". |
| "They have met with a lot of resistance here. Stones have been thrown, we've seen Tasers deployed," he said. | "They have met with a lot of resistance here. Stones have been thrown, we've seen Tasers deployed," he said. |
| He added: "Police quickly moved through the site to the main gate once they had gained entry as this was the most important point. Bailiffs and heavy machinery have to come on to the site through this barricaded gate." | |
| Police vehicles had lined local roads from the early hours of the morning and an ambulance station had been set up in a compound nearby. | Police vehicles had lined local roads from the early hours of the morning and an ambulance station had been set up in a compound nearby. |
| Officers have now begun removing protesters from the 40ft (12m) high scaffolding on the main gate. | |
| Several masked protesters have been taken away in handcuffs. About 25 protesters remain on the rampart and officers are removing them one by one. | |
| Resident Nora Egan said she was struck as she told police they were not entitled to break down fences. She said: "This is being led by the police, there is no sign of bailiffs." | Resident Nora Egan said she was struck as she told police they were not entitled to break down fences. She said: "This is being led by the police, there is no sign of bailiffs." |
| Talks broke down | Talks broke down |
| Resident Kathleen McCarthy said: "The memory of Dale Farm will weigh heavily on Britain for generations - we are being dragged out of the only homes we have in this world. | Resident Kathleen McCarthy said: "The memory of Dale Farm will weigh heavily on Britain for generations - we are being dragged out of the only homes we have in this world. |
| The occupation of the Dale Farm by police began at first light when they streamed through a rear perimeter fence in riot gear. | |
| An alarm siren sounded inside the perimeter and protesters gathered at the main gate rushed to the eastern side of the site where police were streaming in. | |
| They engaged in hand to hand fighting with the officers who had come across the adjacent fields. | |
| The operation was entirely police led and they were moving at jogging pace, driving back the protesters in a running battle. | |
| Well in excess of 100 officers pushed people aside as they made their way through the site and I saw one traveller dragged and unceremoniously dumped. | |
| Within 15 minutes they had complete control but I did not see a single bailiff with them. | |
| Ranks of officers, including many from the Met force, lined up in front of the main gate and its gantry which has now become the symbol of the fight. | |
| They were pelted with bricks, bottles and other debris and used riot shields above their heads as protection. | |
| "Our entire community is being ripped apart by Basildon Council and the politicians in government." | "Our entire community is being ripped apart by Basildon Council and the politicians in government." |
| Essex Police said officers entered the site "following intelligence which informed the commanders that anyone entering the site was likely to come up against violence and a serious breach of the peace would occur". | Essex Police said officers entered the site "following intelligence which informed the commanders that anyone entering the site was likely to come up against violence and a serious breach of the peace would occur". |
| In a statement, the force said: "Intelligence received indicated protesters had stockpiled various items with the intent of using these against bailiffs and police. | In a statement, the force said: "Intelligence received indicated protesters had stockpiled various items with the intent of using these against bailiffs and police. |
| "First officers on the site were attacked with missiles being thrown including rocks and liquids. These officers were fully equipped to deal with this situation." | |
| It added: "Consistent attempts have been made, both on Tuesday and this morning, to negotiate with protesters to leave the site peacefully." | It added: "Consistent attempts have been made, both on Tuesday and this morning, to negotiate with protesters to leave the site peacefully." |
| The eviction, which could cost up to £18m, marks the end of a 10-year battle between travellers, who bought a former scrap yard on green belt land in 2001 and established their caravans there, and the council. | The eviction, which could cost up to £18m, marks the end of a 10-year battle between travellers, who bought a former scrap yard on green belt land in 2001 and established their caravans there, and the council. |
| More travellers joined them and some semi-permanent chalet dwellings were built. | More travellers joined them and some semi-permanent chalet dwellings were built. |
| 'Organised violence' | 'Organised violence' |
| Over the past few days, travellers and their supporters have reinforced the perimeter of the 49 illegal plots at the site. | Over the past few days, travellers and their supporters have reinforced the perimeter of the 49 illegal plots at the site. |
| Basildon Council leader Tony Ball condemned the violence between police and protesters. | Basildon Council leader Tony Ball condemned the violence between police and protesters. |
| He said: "The pre-meditated and organised scenes of violence that we have already seen with protesters throwing rocks and bricks, threatening police with iron bars and setting fire to a caravan are shocking. | He said: "The pre-meditated and organised scenes of violence that we have already seen with protesters throwing rocks and bricks, threatening police with iron bars and setting fire to a caravan are shocking. |
| "These are utterly disgraceful scenes and demonstrate the fact some so-called supporters were always intent on violence. | "These are utterly disgraceful scenes and demonstrate the fact some so-called supporters were always intent on violence. |
| "Nonetheless we are going to press on with this operation with our partners in a safe, dignified and humane way and will uphold the law." | "Nonetheless we are going to press on with this operation with our partners in a safe, dignified and humane way and will uphold the law." |
| Mr Ball added: "I feel some sympathy for the women and children who have been misled by their own community who said that if they settled on the site they would be granted planning permission and this was never the case." | Mr Ball added: "I feel some sympathy for the women and children who have been misled by their own community who said that if they settled on the site they would be granted planning permission and this was never the case." |
| He said that "alternative bricks and mortar accommodation" offered to the travellers had been turned down." | |
| 'Minimum force' | |
| Basildon Council's initial application to have them evicted began a series of legal cases which saw the local authority and the travellers explore every part of the justice system to settle the dispute. | Basildon Council's initial application to have them evicted began a series of legal cases which saw the local authority and the travellers explore every part of the justice system to settle the dispute. |
| As appeals were made by the travellers on humanitarian, medical and other grounds it became apparent they would have to go. | As appeals were made by the travellers on humanitarian, medical and other grounds it became apparent they would have to go. |
| Conservative MP for Basildon John Baron said: "Police are using the minimum force required and when you are being pelted with bricks and rocks you are entitled to defend yourself. | |
| "This is a site clearance not a forced eviction and we hope it will become peaceful but that is up to travellers and protesters." | |
| Labour MEP Richard Howitt said: "The smoke above Dale Farm is the most visible sign of the failure of Basildon Council to seek a mediated solution." |