The Baroness of Moulsecoomb was briefly arrested as police cleared a camp of protesters from Parliament Square today.

Peer Jenny Jones was held as 15 people were arrested when police moved in to break up an Occupy Democracy protest.

Organisers said on Twitter Baroness Jones, a London Assembly member for the Green Party, was "dearrested once police worked out who she is" [sic] during the unrest this morning.

Police said the protest was broken up after demonstrators broke the law by sleeping on a tarpaulin in the square.

Occupy London's Twitter feed posted a picture of Baroness Jones being arrested alongside the caption: "Jenny Jones goes down for defending the right to protest!!!!!"

The Green Party confirmed Baroness Jones had been arrested after being "witness to a close friend being arrested as part of the protest in defence of civil liberties and the right to protest".

The ex-Deputy Mayor of London and member of the Metropolitan Police Authority said: "The police have a duty to facilitate peaceful protest in this country which people have a legal right to do, but that appears to end as soon as you come within shouting distance of the Westminster village.

"The people who run this country should not be able to tuck demonstrators away out of sight. Parliament needs to listen and people should have the right to get their voices heard.”

A Met Police spokesman said: "At around 11am this morning a 64-year-old woman was arrested in Parliament Square for obstructing police.

"A short time later she was dearrested after giving details suitable for a summons.

"Where a name and address is known we are able to proceed by way of a summons.

"The evidence will be considered and a decision will be taken as to whether to proceed with prosecution."