Dale Farm: 16 People Charged With Obstructing Bailiffs During Eviction

Evicted Dale Farm Travellers Charged With Obstructing Bailiffs

Police have charged 16 people with offences linked to the clearance of the UK's largest travellers' site.

The eight women and eight men had been on police bail since being arrested at Dale Farm near Basildon in October. It has been announced they will all face charges of obstructing a bailiff.

Protest group Dale Farm Solidarity issued a statement saying that more than 30 supporters had rejected police cautions.

It said: "We stand by our decision to attempt to prevent the brutal forced eviction that took place. It has left Dale Farm a wasteland, with 83 families homeless and living in inhumane conditions.

"We believe that the eviction was unjust and therefore our actions were justified; we cannot accept 'guilt' for standing side by side with the Dale Farm community."

The protesters who have been charged come from Cambridge, Leicester, London, Hereford, Surrey, Kent, Sheffield, Leeds and Bristol. Several are of no fixed address.

Essex Police also said that a woman arrested on suspicion of obstructing a bailiff on October 19 has been released without charge.

A 22-year-old man from Bristol and a 40-year-old woman from Bridport, Dorset, received cautions for obstructing a bailiff on October 19.

A 24-year-old man of no fixed address has been charged with assault by beating and a public order offence.

A total of 39 people were arrested during the protest. At least three have already appeared in court.