SIXTEEN protesters could face court action after refusing to accept police cautions for obstructing bailiffs during the Dale Farm eviction.

Thirty two people involved in the protests in October answered police bail yesterday.

Sixteen, from across the country, were offered cautions to avoid court, but refused. Essex Police referred their cases to the Basildon Council which could summon them to court.

Sixteen more people were still due to be dealt with last night.

Protest group Dale Farm Solidarity issued a statement saying 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 the eviction was unjust and therefore our actions were justified. We cannot accept ‘guilt’ for standing side-by-side with the Dale Farm community.”

Separately, a 24-year-old man of no fixed address has been charged with assault and a public order offence in connection with disorder at Dale Farm on October 19.

He will appear at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on January 5.

A woman arrested on suspicion of obstructing a bailiff at Dale Farm on October 19 has been released from bail without charge.

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

More than 40 people were arrested in connection with the protests.

Mary O'Brien, who lived at Dale Farm, said “Nobody has ever stood up in history for travelling people.

“Dale Farm comes along, and we had people, really good settled people, that stood up for us.

“I’ll never forget that, and my people will never forget that.

We lost our homes, but it made history.”