A lawyer representing hundreds of Extinction Rebellion protesters said it "beggars belief" so many of them are being prosecuted.

It comes as two courtrooms are being set aside for a day each week at Westminster Magistrates' Court for 19 weeks, to deal with Extinction Rebellion protesters arrested in mass demonstrations across the capital.

Around 35 protesters are due to appear at City of London magistrates' court on Friday, while it is thought more than 50 will be summonsed every Friday in August.

Solicitor Raj Chada, from Hodge Jones and Allen, which represents around 300 of the protesters, who were calling for action on climate issues, said the prosecutions are a waste of money.

Extinction Rebellion at Glastonbury 2019 - in pictures 30 show all Extinction Rebellion at Glastonbury 2019 - in pictures 1/30 Protesters affiliated with Extinction Rebellion take part in a procession during Glastonbury Festival. REUTERS 2/30 The climate chainge march was staged by Greenpeace UK and Extinction Rebellion on Worthy Farm. PA 3/30 People dressed up in red robes and white masks PA 4/30 Protesters carried model animals. AFP/Getty Images 5/30 Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace stage a climate change march on the second day of Glastonbury. PA 6/30 People dressed up as clown fish Getty Images 7/30 Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace protesters. PA 8/30 Festival-goers carried a giant skeleton. AFP/Getty Images 9/30 Thousands joined the procession through the festival. REUTERS 10/30 Extinction Rebellion movement's 'Tell the Truth' boat, is seen on the second day of Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm. PA 11/30 Colourful music fans carry a giant snake puppet. AFP/Getty Images 12/30 The Arcadia Bug joined the rally. PA 13/30 Women wearing tiger themed costumes PA 14/30 A protester carries a dolphin puppet for the rally, AFP/Getty Images 15/30 Greenpeace UK activists joined the fray. PA 16/30 The procession featured creative festival floats PA 17/30 Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace stage a climate change march on the second day of Glastonbury Festival. PA 18/30 Brass bands played in the crowds. PA 19/30 Thousands joined the rally. PA 20/30 Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace stage a climate change march PA 21/30 Protester wears a wasp costume. REUTERS 22/30 Protestors from Climate change group Extinction rebellion walk through Glastonbury Festival AFP/Getty Images 23/30 Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace stage a protest. PA 24/30 Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace stage a climate change march PA 25/30 Festival floats move through the crowd. REUTERS 26/30 People wore red robes and white masks. REUTERS 27/30 Festival goers dressed as radioactive waste smile. Getty Images 28/30 A sign held up by a group of protesters saying 'rebel for life'. Getty Images 29/30 Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace stage a climate change march on the second day of Glastonbury Festival PA 30/30 Extinction Rebellion movement's 'Tell the Truth' boat. PA 1/30 Protesters affiliated with Extinction Rebellion take part in a procession during Glastonbury Festival. REUTERS 2/30 The climate chainge march was staged by Greenpeace UK and Extinction Rebellion on Worthy Farm. PA 3/30 People dressed up in red robes and white masks PA 4/30 Protesters carried model animals. AFP/Getty Images 5/30 Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace stage a climate change march on the second day of Glastonbury. PA 6/30 People dressed up as clown fish Getty Images 7/30 Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace protesters. PA 8/30 Festival-goers carried a giant skeleton. AFP/Getty Images 9/30 Thousands joined the procession through the festival. REUTERS 10/30 Extinction Rebellion movement's 'Tell the Truth' boat, is seen on the second day of Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm. PA 11/30 Colourful music fans carry a giant snake puppet. AFP/Getty Images 12/30 The Arcadia Bug joined the rally. PA 13/30 Women wearing tiger themed costumes PA 14/30 A protester carries a dolphin puppet for the rally, AFP/Getty Images 15/30 Greenpeace UK activists joined the fray. PA 16/30 The procession featured creative festival floats PA 17/30 Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace stage a climate change march on the second day of Glastonbury Festival. PA 18/30 Brass bands played in the crowds. PA 19/30 Thousands joined the rally. PA 20/30 Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace stage a climate change march PA 21/30 Protester wears a wasp costume. REUTERS 22/30 Protestors from Climate change group Extinction rebellion walk through Glastonbury Festival AFP/Getty Images 23/30 Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace stage a protest. PA 24/30 Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace stage a climate change march PA 25/30 Festival floats move through the crowd. REUTERS 26/30 People wore red robes and white masks. REUTERS 27/30 Festival goers dressed as radioactive waste smile. Getty Images 28/30 A sign held up by a group of protesters saying 'rebel for life'. Getty Images 29/30 Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace stage a climate change march on the second day of Glastonbury Festival PA 30/30 Extinction Rebellion movement's 'Tell the Truth' boat. PA

"To prosecute 1,000 people for peaceful protests beggars belief," he said.

"At a time when more and more violent crimes aren't being prosecuted the CPS has decided to waste taxpayers's money by dragging all of those arrested from Extinction Rebellion in front of the courts.

"Figures show that around nine per cent of crimes in the UK lead to a criminal charge, yet when it comes to peaceful protesters they are trying to charge 100 per cent.

"The simple fact is that most of those protesters will get nothing more than a conditional discharge or fine.

"How can this amount of court time and money be wasted on this? The priority should be to tackle the climate crisis that threatens us rather than the prosecution of peaceful protesters."

Extinction Rebellion closing ceremony: In Pictures 11 show all Extinction Rebellion closing ceremony: In Pictures 1/11 Getty Images 2/11 AP 3/11 REUTERS 4/11 Getty Images 5/11 AP 6/11 AFP/Getty Images 7/11 PA 8/11 REUTERS 9/11 REUTERS 10/11 REUTERS 11/11 Getty Images 1/11 Getty Images 2/11 AP 3/11 REUTERS 4/11 Getty Images 5/11 AP 6/11 AFP/Getty Images 7/11 PA 8/11 REUTERS 9/11 REUTERS 10/11 REUTERS 11/11 Getty Images

But a senior Met officer insisted protesters had chosen to ignore restrictions put in place by police to try to limit the disruption.

Commander Jane Connors said: "The serious disruption caused to people in central London during the Extinction Rebellion demonstrations in April was beyond unacceptable.

"As ever, our policing focus was to balance the right to protest while ensuring Londoners could continue to go about their daily business.

"However, protesters continually chose to ignore the conditions imposed by the MPS in order to keep London moving. As a result an exceptionally large number of arrests were made in order to contain the serious disruption that was being caused.

"This had a significant impact on local policing as thousands of officers were diverted away from core local duties and asked to work extended 12-hour shifts. We now have a dedicated team in place to follow up and thoroughly investigate all arrests that were made.

"We previously stated our intention to progress each and every case in relation to these protests, and we will continue to work closely with the CPS to bring those responsible for this disorder before the courts."

In pictures - Extinction Rebellion 'die-in' at Natural History Museum 5 show all In pictures - Extinction Rebellion 'die-in' at Natural History Museum 1/5 Extinction Rebellion climate change activists lie on the floor as they perform a mass 'die-in' in the main hall of the Natural History Museum Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty Images 2/5 Extinction Rebellion climate change activists lie on the floor as they perform a mass 'die-in' in the main hall of the Natural History Museum Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty Images 3/5 Extinction Rebellion climate change activists lie on the floor as they perform a mass 'die-in' in the main hall of the Natural History Museum Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty Images 4/5 Extinction Rebellion climate change activists lie on the floor as they perform a mass 'die-in' in the main hall of the Natural History Museum Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty Images 5/5 Extinction Rebellion climate change activists in red costume perform after the 'die-in' Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty Images 1/5 Extinction Rebellion climate change activists lie on the floor as they perform a mass 'die-in' in the main hall of the Natural History Museum Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty Images 2/5 Extinction Rebellion climate change activists lie on the floor as they perform a mass 'die-in' in the main hall of the Natural History Museum Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty Images 3/5 Extinction Rebellion climate change activists lie on the floor as they perform a mass 'die-in' in the main hall of the Natural History Museum Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty Images 4/5 Extinction Rebellion climate change activists lie on the floor as they perform a mass 'die-in' in the main hall of the Natural History Museum Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty Images 5/5 Extinction Rebellion climate change activists in red costume perform after the 'die-in' Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty Images

The Metropolitan Police said 10 people have already been through the courts, with seven convicted of a criminal offence and three cases discontinued.

More than 1,000 activists were arrested over the protest action that brought parts of central London to a standstill in April.

So far 232 files of evidence have been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service.

The Metropolitan Police said in May it would push for all the 1,151 people arrested, including Olympic gold medal-winning canoeist Etienne Stott, to face charges.

So far 180 have been charged, one cautioned for outraging public decency and 32 have been released with no further action, while the hundreds remaining are still under consideration.

The Extinction Rebellion group's tactics included asking volunteers to deliberately get arrested to cause maximum disruption at roadblocks on Waterloo Bridge, Oxford Circus and Marble Arch.

Others glued themselves to trains and buildings.

Extinction Rebellion said while activists would welcome the chance to have their day in court, the burden on the criminal justice system was not justifiable.

"The burden this tsunami of cases will place on the courts is unprecedented and will impact the day to day work of the criminal justice system," the group said.

"With most defendants likely to receive a conditional discharge, the waste of court time and resource is unjustifiable."

Additional reporting by Press Association.