Kayak protest over climate change

About 20 activists demonstrated at the DECC in flippers and kayaks

Campaigners sat in kayaks outside government offices in London to protest at "false solutions" to climate change.

Twenty activists wearing flippers and goggles demonstrated at the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to mark the end of the Climate Camp.

Thousands of people have begun leaving the camp, a week after it was set up in Blackheath, south-east London.

Police said its "low-key" approach was a "success" and showed it heeded the recommendations after the G20 protests.

'Failed systems'

Green activists wore arm bands, goggles and flippers and sat in kayaks during the demonstration in Whitehall Place.

Jane Roberts, a protester, said: "We thought that DECC's staff and Ed Miliband might appreciate some goggles and floats because if they continue with their destructive policies they will need them.

"Rather than getting serious about tackling climate change, DECC is simply seeking to preserve these failed systems with false solutions, such as carbon trading."

Following the demonstration at the DECC the activists headed to Trafalgar square where they sailed on the kayaks in the fountains and spoke to people about Climate Camp.

The week-long camp was monitored by CCTV cameras

At the camp in Blackheath hundreds of people who had been staying there since last Wednesday began taking down the tents and dismantling portable structures.

Peter McDonnell, 27, from Shepherd's Bush, who has been at the camp through the week said they hoped to clear the green space by the evening.

Mr McDonnell said: "The police have had a very low-key presence but keeping the location (of the camp) a secret was definitely worth it going from the past experience.

"It is a good thing that they have not trampled over our civil liberties and assaulted us like they did last year at Kingsnorth."

G20 recommendations

Ch Supt Helen Ball said the Metropolitan Police had adopted a "neighbourhood style of policing" and only one person was arrested for aggravated trespass after refusing to give name and address. But the site was monitored by CCTV cameras.

Ms Ball said: "Where we can we would police in a way proportionate to the situation.

"Our low key approach was the right approach for this protest and it does show that we have taken into account the recommendations in the reports following G20.

"But we have policed a lot of protests since G20 and we learnt from every operation."