A UN mission will call shortly for a freeze on plans by Basildon District Council to bulldoze Britain’s largest Gypsy community.

Yves Cabannes, the French-born chair of the UN Advisory Group on Forced Evictions, who led a mission to Dale Farm this week (23 April) told residents
they should not have to negotiate with the council while under threat.

After listening to mothers plead for the future of their children and the safety of elderly and sick relatives, Cabannes assured them that his committee’s report to the UK Government would include a recommendation for a freeze on evictions.

“We have heard you say you want to stay where you are,” said Cabannes, who holds a professorship at University College London. “We support you in that.”

He went on to commend residents for their resistance to eviction and said that Dale Farm was giving an example to Roma across Europe in their long fight against anti-Gypsy racism.

Richard Sheridan, president of the Gypsy Council, said afterwards that he expected UN Mission members to be present should an eviction operation be launched at a later date. A meeting would be taking place on 14 at Westminster to brief and finalise the plans of eviction monitors, who include Lord Avebury.

Meanwhile Essex police and fire services are investigating a suspected arson attack on Dale Farm which took place during Sunday night (18 April). At about 10.30 pm the emergency services were called to a blaze which destroyed a bungalow
belonging to Sam Vinden, one of the older Romani residents at Oak Lane.