Violence at Dale Farm evictions

19 October 2011 Last updated at 02:47 ET

Bricks and debris have been thrown at police who are moving in to clear the illegal part of the largest travellers’ in the UK.

Officers in riot gear entered the after breaking down a rear fence just after 07:00 BST, prompting angry confrontations.

The move came during discussions, described by supporters as a distraction, at the main gate.

Supporters quickly erected barricades as police entered the .

Electricity supplies have been cut. Protesters wearing masks said this had turned off crucial medical equipment belonging to elderly residents.

At least 50 officers led the operation to clear the . One resident said she had been hit by a baton.

‘Heavily outnumbered’

Several supporters have been detained after violent clashes and police are believed to be using Taser stun guns.

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” and that riot police were making their way further into the .

“They have met with a lot of resistance here,” he said.

Violence broke out as police entered the Dale Farm

“Stones have been thrown, we’ve seen Tasers deployed.”

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.

On Monday, a last ditch application by residents was rejected by the Court of Appeal, which gave Basildon Council the go-ahead to evict them.

Over the last few days, travellers and their supporters have reinforced the perimeter of the 49 illegal plots.

The eviction could cost up to £18m and follows a 10-year legal battle.

Basildon Council leader Tony Ball said on Tuesday: “We now must get on with the difficult job of clearing Dale Farm in as safe and dignified a manner as possible – and that is what we will now do.”

Grattan Puxon, of the Gypsy Council, said last minute talks on Tuesday between the travellers and the council had broken down because, he claimed, the council was unwilling to negotiate and was “mustering police and bailiffs” for the planned eviction.

Mr Ball said the travellers had unrealistic expectations about the meeting, which was about “how” the eviction should take place, and not a negotiation about “if and when”.

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