Police release torch protesters

Police surrounded the torch bearers along the relay route

The 37 people arrested during clashes between pro-Tibet protesters and police as the Olympic torch made its way through London have been released.

Three were bailed and the rest were cautioned, given fixed penalty notices or released with no further action.

Protests over China's human rights record began soon after the relay began at Wembley, and prompted an increasing police presence through the city.

Police have denied claims that they were heavy-handed with some protesters.

See a map of the torch relay route

Metropolitan Police Commander Bob Broadhurst said the 37 arrests were for "minor" public order offences, committed by a "relatively small number of people".

"I don't think we were heavy-handed at all," he said, stressing that the role of officers was to maintain safety and order while thousands of people were on the streets of London.

I don't think we were heavy-handed at all Bob Broadhurst Metropolitan Police Commander In pictures: Olympic Torch relay Flashpoints on torch route

He also pointed out that the vast majority of demonstrators, including Chinese supporters, were peaceful and well behaved.

"The bottom line is, before this event, a number of groups came to us and asked if they could lawfully protest.

"We allowed that. We did tell some of them that because of the numbers and because of the locations they would be behind barriers for their own safety."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown greeted the torch outside Number 10, despite pressure to boycott the parade and the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg had said the prime minister's involvement would be "wholly inappropriate" until China opened talks with the Dalai Lama about Chinese rule in Tibet.

However, Mr Brown said he was pleased to have been involved in the relay - although he did not hold the torch himself.

Gordon Brown greeted participants of the torch relay at Downing St

"As far as the torch is concerned, it was always agreed as part of the exercise of coming around the different countries, that the torches pass between athletes, as it was at Downing Street," he said.

"That's what happened yesterday but I was pleased to be part of the ceremony where it happened."

The torch was lit in Olympia, Greece, last week and will go through 20 countries before being carried into the Beijing Games opening ceremony on 8 August.

In Paris, where the torch is being paraded on Monday and further protests are expected, the police chief has said the flame will be protected like a head of state.

For Sunday's relay in London, a protective ring of 10 Chinese flame attendants and fluorescent-jacketed police officers surrounded the torchbearers at all times, with additional uniformed officers joining at potential flashpoints along the route.

Police said there were about 500 people in Whitehall and about 2,000 gathered near the British Museum.

Throughout the 31-mile route, several scuffles broke out as police tackled some protesters who attempted to disrupt the torch's progress, including one man who attempted to grab it from television presenter Konnie Huq.

The route was abruptly changed a couple of times by police to avoid potential trouble.

Pro-China supporters were also stationed along the route, waving Chinese and Olympic flags and calling for "one China".

LONDON TORCH RELAY 6 APRIL

1: Wembley 1030BST 2: Ladbroke Grove 1100 3: British Museum 1220 4: China Town 1230 5: Trafalgar Square 1250 6: Southbank Centre 1330 7: Somerset House 1415

8: St Paul's Cathedral 1430 9: Potter's Fields 1500 10: Whitechapel Road 1530 11: Stratford 1600 12: Canary Wharf 1700 13: North Greenwich 1800

Source: Mayor of London

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