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15 October 2011
Last updated at 20:05 ET
Around 500 protesters are continuing to demonstrate into the night outside St Paul's Cathedral after a day of protest in London's financial district.
Part of a worldwide protest against "corporate greed" inspired by the US's Occupy Wall Street movement, between 2,000 to 3,000 protesters took part.
As night fell in London approximately 70 tents were pitched at the foot of the steps of St Paul's by protesters.
Scotland Yard said five people had been arrested but no major disorder.
Three of those were for assault on police officers and two for public order offences.
BBC reporter Phil Bodmer said about 2,000 to 3,000 protesters took part, but police refused to give an official estimate.
Smaller protests have taken place in Bristol, Birmingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
'Disproportionate force' Anna Jones, from the Occupy London Stock Exchange group, was critical of the policing of the demonstration. "We have already seen a disproportionate amount of force by the police against protesters who are occupying the area outside St Paul's," she said.
Continue reading the main story At the scene
As night fell, things began to feel much more intense.
Riot officers in bright yellow jackets moved on to the steps of St Paul's Cathedral, shouting at protesters to move away, saying they needed to protect the historic building.
You could feel demonstrators' anger rising as many shouted back at officers and accused them of being heavy-handed.
Sarah Winchester, 28, from London, claimed: "During the day they are kind of hands-off and then as soon as night falls they come in with the riot police and they make it really sinister and scary."
Police dogs have also been prowling the area and police tape and vans are blocking any more protesters from joining the main demonstration.
Officers say they are working to ensure the area is safe.
Despite the heightened tension over the past few hours, for the most part this has been a peaceful protest by ordinary people who wanted to express their anger at the global finance industry.
Some of the demonstrators here have pitched tents and say they are planning to stay all night.
"We have seen people, kettled, grabbed and thrown off the steps forcefully by the police. This was entirely unnecessary. None came here to have a fight with the police."
She added: "The only crime that the police can pin on people is one of having a conversation about real democracy and the unfair and unequal economic system that favours the rich and powerful."
Scotland Yard said a "containment" had been in place at St Paul's Churchyard for a time on Saturday "to prevent breach of the peace".
At one point police said they would not allow camping in front of the cathedral, because it was "illegal and disrespectful" but later a Scotland Yard spokesman said a number of tents had been pitched and there were no plans to remove them before Sunday morning.
The cathedral's Sunday Holy Communion is scheduled to begin at 0800 BST.
The global organisers of the protests said on their website the aim was to "initiate the global change we want".
Earlier, demonstrators attempted to set up another camp outside the London Stock Exchange in privately-owned Paternoster Square in the City, but were prevented by the police.
After protesters returned to St Paul's Churchyard, the square in front of the cathedral, officers prevented more people trying to join the protest by cutting off access points.
Several hundred protesters congregated behind the police lines and heckled officers for not allowing anyone through.
Activists carried banners with slogans such as "We are the 99%" and "Bankers got a bailout, we got sold out".
A section 60aa order - which gives officers the power to force people to remove masks covering their faces - is also currently in place in the City of London.
Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, gave a speech to one group of protesters about anonymity after he was challenged by police for wearing a mask as he walked to the protest.
He said: "I ask that all of you demand that foreign bank accounts be opened up and made transparent, the same way that I today have been forced to be made transparent."
Are you taking part in the Occupy London protests? You can send us your experiences using the form below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditions
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Part of a worldwide protest against "corporate greed" inspired by the US's Occupy Wall Street movement, between 2,000 to 3,000 protesters took part.
As night fell in London approximately 70 tents were pitched at the foot of the steps of St Paul's by protesters.
Scotland Yard said five people had been arrested but no major disorder.
Three of those were for assault on police officers and two for public order offences.
BBC reporter Phil Bodmer said about 2,000 to 3,000 protesters took part, but police refused to give an official estimate.
Smaller protests have taken place in Bristol, Birmingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
'Disproportionate force' Anna Jones, from the Occupy London Stock Exchange group, was critical of the policing of the demonstration. "We have already seen a disproportionate amount of force by the police against protesters who are occupying the area outside St Paul's," she said.
Continue reading the main story At the scene
As night fell, things began to feel much more intense.
Riot officers in bright yellow jackets moved on to the steps of St Paul's Cathedral, shouting at protesters to move away, saying they needed to protect the historic building.
You could feel demonstrators' anger rising as many shouted back at officers and accused them of being heavy-handed.
Sarah Winchester, 28, from London, claimed: "During the day they are kind of hands-off and then as soon as night falls they come in with the riot police and they make it really sinister and scary."
Police dogs have also been prowling the area and police tape and vans are blocking any more protesters from joining the main demonstration.
Officers say they are working to ensure the area is safe.
Despite the heightened tension over the past few hours, for the most part this has been a peaceful protest by ordinary people who wanted to express their anger at the global finance industry.
Some of the demonstrators here have pitched tents and say they are planning to stay all night.
"We have seen people, kettled, grabbed and thrown off the steps forcefully by the police. This was entirely unnecessary. None came here to have a fight with the police."
She added: "The only crime that the police can pin on people is one of having a conversation about real democracy and the unfair and unequal economic system that favours the rich and powerful."
Scotland Yard said a "containment" had been in place at St Paul's Churchyard for a time on Saturday "to prevent breach of the peace".
At one point police said they would not allow camping in front of the cathedral, because it was "illegal and disrespectful" but later a Scotland Yard spokesman said a number of tents had been pitched and there were no plans to remove them before Sunday morning.
The cathedral's Sunday Holy Communion is scheduled to begin at 0800 BST.
The global organisers of the protests said on their website the aim was to "initiate the global change we want".
Earlier, demonstrators attempted to set up another camp outside the London Stock Exchange in privately-owned Paternoster Square in the City, but were prevented by the police.
After protesters returned to St Paul's Churchyard, the square in front of the cathedral, officers prevented more people trying to join the protest by cutting off access points.
Several hundred protesters congregated behind the police lines and heckled officers for not allowing anyone through.
Activists carried banners with slogans such as "We are the 99%" and "Bankers got a bailout, we got sold out".
A section 60aa order - which gives officers the power to force people to remove masks covering their faces - is also currently in place in the City of London.
Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, gave a speech to one group of protesters about anonymity after he was challenged by police for wearing a mask as he walked to the protest.
He said: "I ask that all of you demand that foreign bank accounts be opened up and made transparent, the same way that I today have been forced to be made transparent."
Are you taking part in the Occupy London protests? You can send us your experiences using the form below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditions
Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed | Amazon Plugin | Settlement Statement