Police have shut down the public's access to wifi on the London Underground in an attempt to disrupt planned protests by climate protesters.

The blocking of the Tube's internet access, which was not made public before being implemented, comes amid a takeover since Monday of some of London's busiest streets by Extinction Rebellion, an environmental group attempting to force adequate government action over runaway climate change.

“In the interests of safety and to prevent and deter serious disruption to the London Underground network, British Transport Police (BTP) has taken the decision to restrict passenger WiFi connectivity at Tube stations," British Transport Police told The Independent.

"This follows intelligence that Extinction Rebellion protesters intend to cause disruption to Tube services."

A spokesperson added: “We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and we would like to assure passengers that this decision is not taken lightly."

Police say the group have caused "serious disruption" affecting half a million people in the capital over the past two days. Almost 300 activists have been arrested amid protests in Oxford Circus, Marble Arch, Parliament Square, Waterloo Bridge and Piccadilly Circus.

But XR say they are planning to disrupt Tube services on Wednesday after the government failed to meet its members to discuss their demands.

"XR will nonviolently disrupt Tube services to highlight the emergency of ecological collapse," XR said in a statement. "We sincerely apologise to all those who may suffer as a consequence of this disruption. In any other circumstances we would never dream of disrupting the Tube but this is an emergency."

A Transport for London (TfL) spokesperson said: “We’re working closely with the police to manage the impact of disruption to London’s transport network. Customer WiFi in Underground stations has been temporarily switched off after a request from British Transport Police. We will restore access as soon as we are able to do so.”

International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Show all 38 1 /38 International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Activists make some noise at the occupation of Oxford Circus in London Reuters International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied A climate activist is arrested after spray painting a demand for climate laws on the entrance to Bristol Magistrates Court Bristol Live /SWNS International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Protesters in New York stage a "die-in" near City Hall in New York on April 17 Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Jeremy Corbyn leaves his home as activists have glued themselves to the fence outside on April 17 SWNS International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied An activist waters the plants at the occupation of Waterloo Bridge in London PA International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Activists sit in a boat on the River Thames in London on April 16 Reuters International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Two activists stand atop a DLR train while another has superglued his hand to the carriage in Canary Wharf DLR station in London Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied An activist sits in a hammock while occupying Oxford Circus in London AFP/Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Protesters form a road block on the North Bridge in Edinburgh on April 16 PA International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Protesters dance as a DJ plays at Oxford Circus in London on April 17 Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Police remove a protester from the roof a DLR train at Canary Wharf station in London AFP/Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Protesters at the "Temple of Peace & Quiet" occupy Waterloo Bridge in London PA International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Police remove a protester from the roof a DLR train at Canary Wharf station in London AFP/Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Protesters in New York stage a "die-in" near City Hall in New York Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Protesters set up atop a lorry blocking Waterloo Bridge PA International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied An activist walks past the camp on Waterloo Bridge early in the morning of April 17 in London Reuters International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Protesters on the Shell building in London during the protests PA International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied An activist halts a train by superglueing his hand to it Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Activists take part in a protest in Berlin on April 15 Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Activists lie under a lorry on Waterloo Bridge in Central London during the protest PA International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied A demonstrator is arrested on Waterloo Bridge during the second day of protests PA International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Activists carry a skeleton along the North Bridge in Edinburgh Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Activists sit in the protests by Parliament Square in London EPA International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Protesters stand on Waterloo Bridge in Central London during the protests AFP/Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Protesters carry giant wasp puppets in the protest by Parliament Square in London Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied A protester is arrested on Waterloo Bridge in Central London Reuters International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Activists take part in the second day of protests on Waterloo Bridge PA International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Activists wait under a float in the protest in Central London Reuters International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Waterloo Bridge is covered in graffiti after the protest in Central London Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied APRIL 15: Environmental campaigners block Oxford Circus during a coordinated protest by the Extinction Rebellion group on April 15, 2019 in London, England. With demonstrations blocking a number of locations across the capital, the group aims to stop traffic for up to five days Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Demonstrators lay Ruby the rhinoceros during a Extinction Rebellion protest in Parliament Square in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday April 15, 2019. Activists have pledged to block five central locations in a non-violent act of resistance and rebellion that campaigners say could go on for weeks PA International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Environmental campaigners walk across Waterloo Bridge as they take part in a coordinated protest by the Extinction Rebellion group on April 15, 2019 in London, England. With demonstrations blocking a number of locations across the capital, the group aims to stop traffic for up to five days. Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Environmental protesters from the Extinction Rebellion group stage a demonstration in Parliament Square London on April 15, 2019. - Environmental protesters from the Extinction Rebellion campaign group started a programme of demonstrations designed to block five of London's busiest and iconic locations to draw attention to what they see as the "Ecological and Climate Emergency" of climate change. AFP/Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Environmental protesters from the Extinction Rebellion group stage a demonstration in Parliament Square London on April 15, 2019. - Environmental protesters from the Extinction Rebellion campaign group started a programme of demonstrations designed to block five of London's busiest and iconic locations to draw attention to what they see as the "Ecological and Climate Emergency" of climate change. AFP/Getty International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Demonstrators take part in a 'Funeral Procession' during a climate protest in Parliament Square in London, Monday, April 15, 2019. Extinction Rebellion have organised a nationwide week of action, they are calling for a full-scale Rebellion to demand decisive action from governments on climate change and ecological collapse. They plan to engage in acts of non-violent civil disobedience against governments in capital cities around the world. AP International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Protesters erect eco-friendly toilets to accompany the growing number of tents around Marble Arch. International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Demonstrators during a Extinction Rebellion protest in Parliament Square in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday April 15, 2019. Activists have pledged to block five central locations in a non-violent act of resistance and rebellion that campaigners say could go on for weeks. PA International climate protests enter fourth day: London sites occupied Demonstrators during a Extinction Rebellion protest in Oxford Circus in London PA

TfL and BTP's decision was criticised by privacy watchdog Big Brother Watch as "disproportionate" and "deeply authoritarian".

"Shutting down digital infrastructure in response to a peaceful protest is deeply authoritarian," said Griff Ferris, legal and policy officer at Big Brother Watch.

"While the police and transport networks have a duty to keep everyone safe, indiscriminately restricting everyone's ability to access wifi and communicate on the underground is disproportionate and the kind of action that's usually only taken in response to terror attacks.

"The authorities should not be using draconian powers to suppress people's right to peaceful protest."

In the face of climate breakdown – scientists have warned we have 12 years to stop catastrophic global warming – XR has three demands.

It is demanding the UK government declare a climate and ecological emergency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025, and create a so-called citizens’ assembly made up of members of the public, which would lead decision-making in the fight against climate and ecological breakdown