Police have cut Extinction Rebellion protesters out of their tents using scissors in an attempt to reopen roads in central London.

They have also imposed a Section 14 order on the demonstrators, requiring any assembly linked to XR's "Autumn Uprising" to be in Trafalgar Square, on the pedestrianised area around Nelson's Column.

About 200 protesters who camped out overnight were given notices telling them about the order, which is not time-limited, on Tuesday morning.

Those who do not comply will be arrested, police say.

Image: Officers talk to people in their tents

On Tuesday afternoon, Sky News footage from roads around Trafalgar Square showed officers cutting into tents and dismantling them as people sat inside.


"This is an escalation of tactics now from police," said Sky News' home affairs correspondent, Mark White.

"There is nothing delicate about this - they are cutting their way through the tents. They're determined to get control of this main road in central London."

The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: "The Met believes that this action is necessary in order to prevent the demonstrations from causing serious disruption to the community.

"Anyone who fails to comply with the condition is liable to arrest and prosecution."

The force said on Tuesday evening that it had arrested 212 people, in addition to 319 on Monday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called the protesters "uncooperative crusties" and said they should abandon their "hemp-smelling bivouacs".

Image: A man's tent comes down around him as protests continue

Image: Police arrest a vicar who was protesting near Downing Street

Image: A protester glues himself to a door at the Department for Transport

Image: A protester helps someone who had glued himself to the ground

Demonstrators have glued themselves to the Department for Transport building, a tactic used during similar protests earlier this year, and deployed by climate change activists worldwide.

They also locked themselves to cars.

Despite being told to move on, many say they are going nowhere.

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NHS manager Mike Gumn, 33, from Bristol, said: "I have a job - I have taken annual leave to be here. I'd rather be with my family.

"I want to make a statement that [the activists] are all different sorts of people from all different walks of life, not just people you would call hippies."

He added: "We will decide as a group when we are going to move, and we are not going to let police tell us when.

"I would not like to get arrested, but if that happens when I am exercising my right to protest and deliver a good life for my children, then I will take it on the chin."

Image: About 200 protesters camped out overnight

Image: A demonstration outside the Home Office

Another activist, Rob, was locked to the top of a trailer parked in Trafalgar Square for 28 hours before being forcibly removed by five police officers.

He said: "It's a story to tell my grandchildren. It's to show in a completely non-violent way that we're willing to disrupt what we call order now and business as usual. To highlight what needs to be done.

"We won't tolerate business as usual. We mean no harm to anyone we know we're inconveniencing."

Protesters also include former Met Police detective sergeant John Curran, who was arrested when he protested in April, and is willing to be arrested again.

The 49-year-old guitar maker said: "Clearly there is some frustration [for the police] that they probably have better things to be doing, and I agree, but the responsibility for that must lie with the government.

"Take action, and we won't have to be here."

Image: Protestors hold a sign reading 'In the face of extinction, rebellion' in Paris

Image: Activists camp in Paris under a sign reading 'Here we harvest'

The protesters are calling on the government to declare a climate and ecological emergency, to act immediately to halt wildlife loss, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.

They also want the government to create a citizens' assembly on climate and ecological justice.

Activist Glenn Drake, 65, brandished a sign reading: "Boris, sort climate change first, [then] prorogue Brexit."

Mr Drake, from Lowestoft, Suffolk, said: "I voted for Brexit, mainly because I don't want to be part of a federal Europe.

"But because of the urgency of climate change, we need to put aside Brexit.

"No one can agree on it, the country is 50/50 split, so let's put that aside and let's concentrate on the main issue, and that's climate change."

Protests across the UK are planned to continue for two weeks and are part of Extinction Rebellion demonstrations around the world.