Police officers in Hong Kong are upset at being "un-friended" on Facebook and shunned by friends and family as pro-democracy protests continue.

The deep divides in the city’s society being provoked by the issue of greater autonomy from China is reportedly provoking arguments with relatives, friends and on social media.

Psychologists employed by the Hong Kong Police Force have been visiting front-line officers at the Occupy protests, the South China Morning Post reported.

“We really feel our colleagues' pressure,” Alison Mak Lai-ping, a police clinical psychologist, said.

“I've been in the police for so many years but I've never seen a time when colleagues cry every day.”

Some police officers are upset over being “unfriended” on Facebook by people who support the protests because of their role, she added.

Riot police take a rest (AP)

As well as the physical stress of working long hours, police are sometimes being verbally assaulted by protesters and feel a lack of support.

Another clinical psychologist working with Ingrid Mak Wing-fun, told the paper police officers are being told to stop reading the news and talk to their families more to boost morale.

Police were condemned for their response to the start of the protests in September, firing tear gas and dousing unarmed protesters in pepper spray.

The images of demonstrators using their umbrellas to shield themselves sparked the name the “Umbrella Revolution” and has since become a powerful symbol of the movement along with yellow ribbons.

Supporters of the police and those who want the occupation of Hong Kong’s administrative district to stop have taken to wearing blue ribbons.

A pro-democracy protester confronts the police during a demonstration in Hong Kong

While a video showing an officer spraying an elderly man in the face with pepper spray went viral, so did photograph of a Hong Kong policeman cleaning the eyes of a protester and a video of officers asking for understanding.

Speaking on Thursday, the Chief Superintendent Hong Kong police’s public relations branch, Hui Chun-tak, appealed with protesters to go home because of traffic congestion.

“It results in excessive inconvenience to the commuters,” he said. “They have to start their journey early, and have to spend a lot of extra time on travelling.

“(The protesters) are making their voice heard at the expense of the rights of other members of the public to carry on with their normal daily lives."

In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Show all 32 1 /32 In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Pro-democracy protesters make gestures to the police outside Central Government Complex, 1 December EPA In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Pro-democracy protesters build barricades at the bottom of an escalator outside Central Government Complex, 1 December Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Police and protesters scuffle near the office of the Chief Executive in Hong Kong as clashes erupt again on 1 December Reuters In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests An injured protester lies prostrate on the ground as chaos surges around her on 1 December AP In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Thousands of protesters gathered in Hong Kong's Victoria Square to commemorate the anniversary of Tiananmen Square in June Reuters In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests A protester raises his umbrellas in front of tear gas fired by riot police in the main street to Hong Kong's financial Central district in September REUTERS In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Police officers stand guard during clashes with pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong on September 28, 2014 AFP/Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Police officers stand in a cloud of tear gas during a demonstration in Hong Kong on September 28, 2014 AFP/Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests A demonstrator gestures opposite policemen during a pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014 AFP/Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests A man's face is doused with water after police fired tear gas at protesters on 28 September 2014 Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Riot police stand guard outside of the Hong Kong Government Building on 28 September 2014 Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests A protester walks in tear gas fired by riot policemen on 28 September 2014 Reuters In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Protesters hold umbrellas against a line of police officers near the government headquarters in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014 Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests A protester raises his umbrellas in front of tear gas fired by riot police on 28 September 2014 Reuters In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests housands of demonstrators storm onto a highway after breaking through police cordons during ongoing pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014 Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Protesters disperse as riot police fire teargas outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014 Reuters In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Demonstrators surround cars and block roads on 28 September 2014 Reuters In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Police use pepper spray as they clash with protesters jamming the main street to the financial Central district outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014 Reuters In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Protesters wear masks and goggles to protect themselves from pepper spray while blocking a police car outside the government headquarters on 28 September 2014 AP In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy supporter Jimmy Lai attends a rally near the government headquarters in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014 AFP In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests The sign for the Hong Kong central government offices is seen crossed out on 28 September 2014 In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Policemen stand behind a fence decorated with yellow ribbons during a demonstration on 28 September 2014 AFP In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying (C) and Chief Secretary Carrie Lam (R) attend a press conference in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014 Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Food and beverages are provided free to protesters during a demonstration outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014 Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Protestors tie up barricades during a demonstration outside the headquarters of the Legislative Counsel on 28 September 2014 Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Thousands of protesters attend a rally outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong as riot police stand guard on 27 September 2014 Reuters In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Students demonstrate against China's decision not to allow a completely free election in Hong Kong in 2017 EPA In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Protesters are dragged away by police after storming into government headquarters in Hong Kong on 27 September 2014 Reuters In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Protesters clash with riot police in Hong Kong on 27 September 2014 Getty In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Students and police clashed in demonstrations against China's decision not to allow a completely free election in Hong Kong in 2017 on 27 September Reuters In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests A protester holds up placards which reads "Occupy Central" (L) and "Civil Disobedience" (R) Reuters In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Protesters chant slogans in front of the police Reuters

Mr Chun-tak said demonstrators had “refused to listen” to previous orders to move and police would exert their right to investigate “anyone in breach of the laws of Hong Kong.

Hundreds of protesters regrouped on the streets on Friday, a day after the government called off talks with students over their demands.

Carrie Lam, chief secretary of Hong Kong, said the talks were cancelled because demands for universal suffrage were not in accordance with the city's mini-constitution and because of the “illegal” occupation.

The protests started in opposition to the Chinese Government’s refusal to let them select their own candidates for leadership elections in 2017, allowing only Beijing-backed politicians to stand.