Six Injured In Dale Farm Eviction Violence

Police say they are now in control of an illegal traveller site in Essex - after six protesters were injured during the eviction of residents.

"We are now in control and have a peaceful situation and want to bring this to a close," Essex Police Supt Trevor Roe said.

"No officers were injured, there is calm on the site and officers will continue to assist Basildon Council."

Supt Roe said police believe most violence from people on the site came from activists rather than travellers living at Dale Farm.

Two protesters were Tasered by police and three have so far been arrested during the eviction process.

Police came under attack after they entered through the side and rear of the sprawling site at 7am.

Activists erected makeshift barricades and some hurled bottles and debris, while others swung spades at officers wearing protective riot gear.

Two disused caravans were set on fire after electrical supplies were cut to the site by officials.

A line of police moved towards activists chained to a symbolic gate area built from scaffolding poles and scrap - dubbed the birds' nest - at the main entrance to the site.

Bailiffs followed police with specialist tool kits to help unshackle protesters who have been locked to vehicles, concrete-filled barrels and the towering scaffold structure.

Operations are ongoing to clear protesters shackled precariously to the makeshift gantry.

Basildon Council leader Tony Ball supported the police action in clearing the contested site.

"I am absolutely clear that after 10 years of negotiation and seeking a peaceful solution what we are doing is absolutely right thing.

"It is absolutely right that the police led the operation and I thank them for it," Mr Ball said.

"It now looks like things have quietened down a bit and I call on the travellers to ask the protesters to stand down, so that the clearing of the site can be done in the most safe and dignified manner."

But according to travellers, several people were injured needlessly by police during the action to reclaim the site on behalf of the council.

Read the latest updates from the Sky News team at Dale Farm:

One female resident claimed police were violent and told Sky News: "The police literally beat up the women. This is going to reach a dignified end with someone dead."

Another 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.

"Our entire community is being ripped apart by Basildon Council and the politicians in Government."

Human rights observer Lily Hayes said: "Basildon Council are violating the court order by smashing in the walls of a fully legal plot on the Dale Farm site. They are also acting unnecessarily brutally."

However Supt Roe said any claims of undue force would be investigated fully by police.

"Any issues around reasonable force will be looked at," he said.

The clashes occurred after police said they had made a number of attempts to negotiate with demonstrators to leave the site peacefully.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "Intelligence received indicated protesters had stockpiled various items with the intent of using these against bailiffs and police.

"The 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 is a month to the day since Basildon council intended to begin clearing the illegal site.

Seven weeks ago protesters began arriving at Dale Farm to offer their support and organise resistance.

But an eleventh hour injunction prevented the bailiffs from entering and for four weeks a series of legal battles have been fought in the courts.

On Monday the travellers exhausted all legal avenues.

The travellers originally bought the land on the site of an old scrapyard 10 years ago and more than 80 families have been living on 54 sub-plots.

But Basildon Council refused them planning permission on the grounds that the area was greenbelt.

Since then they have been trying to get them to leave and have been granted permission to clear 49 of the plots.

A meeting yesterday between the travellers and the council to discuss the clearance ended with the residents' delegation walking out.

Bishop of Chelmsford Stephen Cottrell said: "As we witness the sad and difficult eviction of the travelling community from Dale Farm, let us pray that it happens peacefully and that no one is hurt or injured.

"But let us also remember that this eviction does not solve the problem but moves it somewhere else. These families are going to have to sleep somewhere tonight.

"What is needed is a national solution to provide travelling communities with stable, permanent and, if they wish, settled sites so that their culture and community can be maintained and flourish within the law."