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19 October 2011
Last updated at 03:07 ET
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Jeremy Cooke reports from inside Dale Farm as police move in
Bricks and debris were thrown at police who moved in to prepare the way for bailiffs clearing the illegal part of the UK's largest travellers' site.
Officers in riot gear entered the site 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.
Essex Police said two people had been Tasered and one arrested.
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.
At least 50 officers led the operation to clear the site. One resident said she had been hit by a baton. Another set fire to her own caravan.
'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 site.
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Aerial footage shows the overwhelming number of police moving in on activists at the site
"They have met with a lot of resistance here," he said.
"Stones have been thrown, we've seen Tasers deployed."
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.
"There are people chained to it and about 25 activists on the overhead gantry who are determined to stay there, they say.
"Police are fanning out around the site. The travellers themselves are keeping out of the way and it is difficult to speak to them."
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.
Resident Nora Egan said she was struck as she told police they were not entitled to break down fences, which are legal. She said: "This is being led by the police, there is no sign of bailiffs."
Talks broke down Margaret Sheridan also claimed she was injured. "They're rough and there is no reasoning with them."
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."
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 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.
"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."
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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Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.Jeremy Cooke reports from inside Dale Farm as police move in
Bricks and debris were thrown at police who moved in to prepare the way for bailiffs clearing the illegal part of the UK's largest travellers' site.
Officers in riot gear entered the site 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.
Essex Police said two people had been Tasered and one arrested.
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.
At least 50 officers led the operation to clear the site. One resident said she had been hit by a baton. Another set fire to her own caravan.
'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 site.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.Aerial footage shows the overwhelming number of police moving in on activists at the site
"They have met with a lot of resistance here," he said.
"Stones have been thrown, we've seen Tasers deployed."
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.
"There are people chained to it and about 25 activists on the overhead gantry who are determined to stay there, they say.
"Police are fanning out around the site. The travellers themselves are keeping out of the way and it is difficult to speak to them."
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.
Resident Nora Egan said she was struck as she told police they were not entitled to break down fences, which are legal. She said: "This is being led by the police, there is no sign of bailiffs."
Talks broke down Margaret Sheridan also claimed she was injured. "They're rough and there is no reasoning with them."
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."
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 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.
"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."
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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